Another irukandji jelly sting...
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Actually, C. barnesi.
DocVikingo
DocVikingo
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Hi devjr,
The name Irukandji appears to derive from the aboriginal tribe formerly of the Cairns region, where most stings seem to occur.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
The name Irukandji appears to derive from the aboriginal tribe formerly of the Cairns region, where most stings seem to occur.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
OP
Scubaroo
Contributor
"irukandji " is the common name for the species, and yes, I think it is aboriginal in origin.
The Chairman
Chairman of the Board
it sure packs a wallop! The reading says the granulated tenticles can be up to a meter long... I am glad we don't have those here in Florida!!!
The following information on Irukandji Syndrome was in our DiveMed Newsletter on January 30, 2002:
Irukandji Syndrome
Constellation of signs and symptoms caused by envenomation by the cubozoan jellyfish Carukia barnesi. It is characterized by backache, arthralgias, myalgias, vomiting, pyrexia, dyspnea, severe pain, numbness, profuse sweating, anxiety, hypertension and tachycardia - associated with marked sympathomimetic (adrenalin like) symptoms. The name comes from an aboriginal tribe near Cairns, Australia.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/xmas/letters/hadok.html
"In 1943, whilst serving with troops stationed in the Cairns, North Queensland area, Dr Ron Southcott first described a strange syndrome that occurred in a group of troops who went swimming in the tropical seas. This syndrome presented with a minor skin sting but was followed approximately 30 minutes later by a bizarre set of distressing systemic symptoms. He called these Type "A" stingings to distinguish between another group of jellyfish stings, which caused severe and instant local skin pain (Type "B" stings, later identified as being due to the Chironex box jellyfish).
Still unaware of the cause, in 1952 Flecker named this set of delayed systemic symptoms the "Irukandji syndrome", after a local aboriginal tribe in the Palm Cove, Cairns area, where most of these envenomations occurred. However, it was not until 1966 that Dr Jack Barnes, using some amazing detective work, captured a small (1.5-2.0cm bell diameter) carybdeid (box jellyfish with just one tentacle in each corner). He then stung himself, his son and a volunteer lifesaver to see if it caused the Irukandji syndrome. All three ended up in the Cairns Base Hospital Intensive Care Unit with the typical severe systemic symptoms of the Irukandji syndrome described below (this is not a recommended procedure!). Southcott later named the jellyfish Carukia barnesi after its intrepid discoverer.
The "slang" name of Irukandji has previously been reserved for Carukia barnesi, but is now increasingly used for any jellyfish causing this bizarre syndrome. In this article the term "Irukandji" is used for any small carybdeid (small box jellyfish) causing the set of systemic symptoms known as the Irukandji syndrome (described below). However, it must be remembered that no other small carybdeid jellyfish has ever been proven to cause this syndrome, even if it appears it may."
http://www.tropmed.org/jellyfish/March2000/page4.html
Irukandji Syndrome and Acute Pulmonary Edema
http://www.marine-medic.com/pages/articles/pdf/article_j06.pdf
http://www.scuba-doc.com/jan3002.pdf (6 of 27) [1/29/2002 3:40:16 PM]
Papilledema and Coma in Child
http://www.marine-medic.com/pages/articles/pdf/article_j19.pdf
The Irukandji Syndrome: A Devastating Syndrome Caused By A North Australian Jellyfish
http://medschool.umaryland.edu/Departments/Dermatology/Jellynewslet/number23.htm
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com/
Subscribe to Divemed/TFS Newsletter
http://snipurl.com/buk8
Irukandji Syndrome
Constellation of signs and symptoms caused by envenomation by the cubozoan jellyfish Carukia barnesi. It is characterized by backache, arthralgias, myalgias, vomiting, pyrexia, dyspnea, severe pain, numbness, profuse sweating, anxiety, hypertension and tachycardia - associated with marked sympathomimetic (adrenalin like) symptoms. The name comes from an aboriginal tribe near Cairns, Australia.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/xmas/letters/hadok.html
"In 1943, whilst serving with troops stationed in the Cairns, North Queensland area, Dr Ron Southcott first described a strange syndrome that occurred in a group of troops who went swimming in the tropical seas. This syndrome presented with a minor skin sting but was followed approximately 30 minutes later by a bizarre set of distressing systemic symptoms. He called these Type "A" stingings to distinguish between another group of jellyfish stings, which caused severe and instant local skin pain (Type "B" stings, later identified as being due to the Chironex box jellyfish).
Still unaware of the cause, in 1952 Flecker named this set of delayed systemic symptoms the "Irukandji syndrome", after a local aboriginal tribe in the Palm Cove, Cairns area, where most of these envenomations occurred. However, it was not until 1966 that Dr Jack Barnes, using some amazing detective work, captured a small (1.5-2.0cm bell diameter) carybdeid (box jellyfish with just one tentacle in each corner). He then stung himself, his son and a volunteer lifesaver to see if it caused the Irukandji syndrome. All three ended up in the Cairns Base Hospital Intensive Care Unit with the typical severe systemic symptoms of the Irukandji syndrome described below (this is not a recommended procedure!). Southcott later named the jellyfish Carukia barnesi after its intrepid discoverer.
The "slang" name of Irukandji has previously been reserved for Carukia barnesi, but is now increasingly used for any jellyfish causing this bizarre syndrome. In this article the term "Irukandji" is used for any small carybdeid (small box jellyfish) causing the set of systemic symptoms known as the Irukandji syndrome (described below). However, it must be remembered that no other small carybdeid jellyfish has ever been proven to cause this syndrome, even if it appears it may."
http://www.tropmed.org/jellyfish/March2000/page4.html
Irukandji Syndrome and Acute Pulmonary Edema
http://www.marine-medic.com/pages/articles/pdf/article_j06.pdf
http://www.scuba-doc.com/jan3002.pdf (6 of 27) [1/29/2002 3:40:16 PM]
Papilledema and Coma in Child
http://www.marine-medic.com/pages/articles/pdf/article_j19.pdf
The Irukandji Syndrome: A Devastating Syndrome Caused By A North Australian Jellyfish
http://medschool.umaryland.edu/Departments/Dermatology/Jellynewslet/number23.htm
scubadoc
Diving Medicine Online
http://www.scuba-doc.com/
Subscribe to Divemed/TFS Newsletter
http://snipurl.com/buk8
wobbegong
Registered
Many stings are now being reported south of Cairns with a number in the Whitsunday region.
A fatality occured recently but cardiac problems have taken the blame. The offshore islands were previously thought to be relatively risk free.
Wobbie
A fatality occured recently but cardiac problems have taken the blame. The offshore islands were previously thought to be relatively risk free.
Wobbie
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