# Tourist \[allegedly\] dies from 'spider bite' in Brazil. Can you id from the necrosis?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-allegedly-dies-from-spider-bite-in-brazil-can-you-id-from-the-necrosis/1004383>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 17, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-allegedly-dies-from-spider-bite-in-brazil-can-you-id-from-the-necrosis/1004383 "2024-07-17T14:14:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-allegedly-dies-from-spider-bite-in-brazil-can-you-id-from-the-necrosis/1004383/1 "2024-07-17T14:14:39Z")

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I say ‘allegedly’ because a) the link says ‘it was ascertained’ without saying by whom, and b) medical professionals aren’t necessarily good entomologists, and c) none of the info in the article is sourced to an onsite physician. Anyway. . .

[Link to story](https://www.unilad.com/news/man-dead-bitten-venomous-spider-brazil-503633-20240716)

So, let’s assume that it was indeed a spider bite. Is there any residue left that would let a medical professional know that it was due to a specific type of spider’s venom?

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-allegedly-dies-from-spider-bite-in-brazil-can-you-id-from-the-necrosis/1004383/2 "2024-07-17T14:26:51Z")

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There are lab tests that correlate with _effects_ of a spider’s venom (i.e. that of a brown recluse spider) but it’s doubtful that any are specific for a particular spider, with the possible exception of testing in a specialized academic setting which probably wasn’t available in this case.

It has been ascertained (love that phrase) that Unilad may not be the most professional of news sources, as they feature stories like “Reality of what would happen if Earth suddenly stopped spinning is leaving people horrified” and spider reporter Poppy Bilderbeck (love that name) has breathlessly reported on major news events like “Car crash survivor shares insight to the afterlife following near-death experience”.

Unilad strikes me as somewhere between the Daily Mail and National Enquirer on the believability scale.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-allegedly-dies-from-spider-bite-in-brazil-can-you-id-from-the-necrosis/1004383/3 "2024-07-17T14:46:33Z")

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Well, yeah, that, too (about Unilad).