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| Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association,
10-August-2007, Vol 120 No 1259
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Three students exposed to Uraba lugens (gum
leaf skeletoniser) caterpillars in a West Auckland school
José G B Derraik
Recently, Derraik has discussed in detail the public health
issues regarding Uraba lugens Walker (Lepidoptera:
Nolidae).1 Commonly known as gum leaf
skeletoniser, the caterpillars of this Australian moth feed on the foliage of
gum trees (Eucalyptus) and other closely related
plants.2 Uraba lugens is firmly
established in the greater Auckland region of New Zealand and, as a result,
eradication is deemed to be not feasible.1
Most cases of harmful exposure to caterpillars seem to occur
in young children, as these creatures are a source of curiosity to children due
to their easy accessibility and slow mobility, and also the caterpillars’
generally bright colours.1,3 It is therefore
not surprising that cases of exposure of school children to U. lugens
are emerging in New Zealand.
This case report describes a recent incident in a West
Auckland school.
Case reportThe cases were observed at a
school in Avondale in mid-February 2007. Three girls of approximately 10 years
of age were climbing a Eucalyptus tree within school grounds. Girl #1
allowed a caterpillar to crawl onto her arm, which she eventually shook off.
Shortly afterwards the girl described feeling a “sting” on her arm.
Girls #2 and #3 do not appear
to have handled the caterpillars intentionally but were exposed to them while
playing on the tree. They account that a short time after the initial stinging
sensation, this turned into an itch.
Approximately 15 minutes
later they were taken to the principal’s office where they exhibited some
distress as a result of the intense itching they described as
“horrible”. Although the girls appeared to be in considerable
discomfort, once reassured, they were relatively calm. Note, however, that the
itching did not appear to be localised, but instead seemed to have been
experienced throughout the girls’ bodies.
The principal observed that
Girls #2 and #3 had welts (a couple of millimetres in diameter) on their skin:
Girl #2 on the back of the ankles, and Girl #3 on her forearm and thigh. Girl #1
also had welts, which were located on the on the back of her hands and lower
arm. The latter welt was larger than all others that were observed and it was
elongated, in the approximate shape and size of the caterpillar itself. Several
skin rashes were also observed, but it is not clear whether these were a result
of the girls scratching themselves, or the exposure itself.
A topical antihistamine was
administered to the girls, which apparently offered them some relief. Once
released from school their parents seem to have offered the girls some extra
care, with one girl being bathed in Dettol®
(antiseptic solution) and other being treated with a traditional Pacific Island
herbal concoction.
The following day all the
girls appeared to have no lingering itchiness or any form of discomfort. At
least Girl #1 had visible welts on her wrists after 5 days, although these were
slight.
The number of cases of child
exposure to U. lugens in the Auckland region is unknown. Based on the
information currently held by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand these appear to be
rare, although there has been at least one previous case of exposure of
kindergarten children in Manukau City. It seems that there have also been a few
incidents of children exposed while on private properties.
It should be noted that no
severe adverse reactions have yet been observed, as previously pointed out by
Derraik.1 Although exposure to U.
lugens may still cause considerable discomfort, the reactions seem to be
relatively minor.
Further information on Uraba lugensUraba lugens has
been the focus of a long-term management programme aimed particularly at filling
current knowledge gaps and controlling the existing
population.4 Although MAF Biosecurity New
Zealand is no longer directly involved in the management of U. lugens,
further information on this pest can be obtained from the organisation’s
website: www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pest-and-disease-response/pests-and-diseases-watchlist/gum-leaf-skeletoniser
Finally, the author would be interested to receive
information from health professionals on any reports of exposure to gum leaf
skeletoniser in New Zealand.
Author information: José G B
Derraik, Senior Adviser (Human Health), MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry, Wellington.
Acknowledgements: I thank Annie Wright and
Mark Ross (MAF Biosecurity New Zealand), and John Fountain (National Poisons
Centre, University of Otago) for their input and for revising this manuscript.
Correspondence: Dr José G B Derraik,
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, PO Box 2526,
Wellington. Fax: (04) 894 0733; email: jose.derraik@maf.govt.nz
References:
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