A physical and chemical study of sea nettle nematocysts and their toxin.

Chrysciova quinquecirrha, the common sea nettle infests the Chesapeake Bay waters during the summer season. This coelenterate causes a severe economic problem for this resort area because of the painful sting it iaflicts upon bathers who accidentally come in contact with its tentacles. These stings are thought to result from the injection of nematocyst threads and the introduction of a toxin into the vidtim's skin (1). The pathogenesis of the resultant cutaneous eruption is not well understood. The morphology, discharge mechanism and chemical properties of the toxin of Cliv ysaora nernatocysts were therefore investigated in order to further define the pathophysiology of sea nettle stings.