Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Revisiting a medical case of “stinging” in the human oral cavity caused by ingestion of raw squid (Cephalopoda: Teuthida): new data on the functioning of squid’s spermatophores

Zoomorphology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Male squid produce intricate spermatophores that, when transferred to the female, undergo the spermatophoric reaction, a complex process of evagination that leads to the attachment of the spermatangium, that is, the everted spermatophore containing the sperm mass. While this process is still not completely understood, the medical literature includes several reports of “oral stinging” (i.e., punctured wounds in the human oral cavity) following consumption of raw male squid, which contains undischarged spermatophores able to inflict such wounds. Here, we revisit a recent medical report of oral stinging by Shiraki et al. (Pathol Int 61:749–751, 2011), providing an in-depth reanalysis of their histological biopsies and revealing vital information on the functioning of squid spermatophores. The morphology of the spermatangia attached within the oral cavity is similar to the condition found in spermatangia naturally attached to female squids. The spermatangia were able to superficially puncture the superficial layers of the oral stratified squamous epithelium, and numerous, minute stellate particles from the squid spermatophore were found adhered to the oral epithelium. These findings corroborate previous hypotheses on the functioning of squid spermatophores, namely that spermatophore attachment generally involves tissue scarification, and that stellate particles play a vital role in the attachment process. Moreover, spermatophore attachment is confirmed to be autonomous (i.e., performed by the spermatophore itself) in another squid species (possibly a loliginid), and the results strongly indicate that the attachment mechanism is not dependent upon a specialized epithelium, nor a mate’s specific chemical stimulus. From the pathological point of view, the best prophylactic measure at present is the removal of the internal organs of the raw squid prior to its consumption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arkhipkin AI, Laptikhovsky VV (2011) Observation of penis elongation in Onykia ingens: implications for spermatophore transfer in deep-water squid. J Molluscan Stud 76:299–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew GA (1911) Sexual activities of the squid, Loligo pealii. I. Copulation, egg-laying and fertilization. J Morphol 22:327–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drew GA (1919) Sexual activities of the squid Loligo pealii (Les.). II. The spermatophore; its structure, ejaculation and formation. J Morphol 32:379–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamada A, Watanabe N, Yamazaki Y, Yoshiba S, Kobayashi A (1990) A case of punctured wounds in the oral cavity by sperm-bags of squid. Med Entomol Zool 41:279–280 (in Japanese; abstract in English)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess SC (1987) Comparative morphology, variability, and systematic applications of cephalopod spermatophores (Teuthoidea and Vampyromorpha). University of Miami, Dissertation

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoving HJT, Laptikhovsky V (2007) Getting under the skin: autonomous implantation of squid spermatophores. Biol Bull 212:177–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoving HJT, Nauwelaerts S, Van Genne B, Stamhuis EJ, Zumholz K (2009) Spermatophore implantation in Rossia moelleri Steenstrup, 1856 (Sepiolidae; Cephalopoda). J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 372:75–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jereb P, Vecchione M, Roper CFE (2010) Family Loliginidae. In: Jereb P, Roper CFE (eds) Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date, vol 2: Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, No. 4. FAO, Rome, pp 38–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawada K, Kawahara M, Akimori T, Yamaguchi T, Okamoto Y, Ishikawa Y (2008) A case of oral stings by spermatophores of Todarodes pacificus. Jpn J Oral Surg 54:423–426 (in Japanese; abstract in English)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawamoto F, Iwata T, Ichihara A, Kumada N, Kano R (1990) A case-report of oral-stings by spermatophores of a squid, Tadorodes pacificus Steenstrup. Jpn J Sanit Zool 41:117–119 (in Japanese; abstract in English)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marian JEAR (2011) Perforating potential of loliginid spermatophores. J Molluscan Stud 77:98–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marian JEAR (2012a) Spermatophoric reaction reappraised: novel insights into the functioning of the loliginid spermatophore based on Doryteuthis plei (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). J Morphol 273:248–278

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marian JEAR (2012b) A model to explain spermatophore implantation in cephalopods (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) and a discussion on its evolutionary origins and significance. Biol J Linn Soc 105:711–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marian JEAR, Domaneschi O (2011) Unraveling the structure of squids’ spermatophores: a combined approach based on Doryteuthis plei (Blainville, 1823) (Cephalopoda: Loliginidae). Acta Zool. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00503.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagakura K, Nakano M, Kanamaru M (1992) Two cases of oral-stings by sperm bag of squid. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 17:195–197

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima H, Akagi M, Miyabe S, Iwasawa H (1996) Two unusual cases of a foreign body in the oral cavity caused by eating raw squid. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 522:104–107

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nesis KN (1995) Mating, spawning and death in oceanic cephalopods: a review. Ruthenica 6:23–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Park G-M, Kim J-Y, Kim J-H, Huh J-K (2011) Penetration of the oral mucosa by parasite-like sperm bags of squid: a case report in a Korean woman. J Parasitol 98:222–223

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roper CFE, Nigmatullin C, Jereb P (2010) Family Ommastrephidae. In: Jereb P, Roper CFE (eds) Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date, vol 2: Myopsid and Oegopsid Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes, No. 4. FAO, Rome, pp 269–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiraki Y, Kawai K, Kojima S, Suzuki Y, Ono K (2011) Stinging in the oral cavity caused by ingestion of the sperm bags of a squid: a case report. Pathol Int 61:749–751

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takahama H, Kinoshita T, Sato M, Sasaki F (1991) Fine structure of the spermatophores and their ejaculated forms, sperm reservoirs, of the Japanese common squid, Todarodes pacificus. J Morphol 207:241–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takai K, Nakajima H, Hanaguri M, Kanda T (1989) A case of stinging in the upper gastrointestinal tract by eating raw squids. Jpn J Sanit Zool 40:227 (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

JEARM was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior). The comments of two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript and are greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Eduardo A. R. Marian.

Additional information

Communicated by A. Schmidt-Rhaesa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marian, J.E.A.R., Shiraki, Y., Kawai, K. et al. Revisiting a medical case of “stinging” in the human oral cavity caused by ingestion of raw squid (Cephalopoda: Teuthida): new data on the functioning of squid’s spermatophores. Zoomorphology 131, 293–301 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-012-0165-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-012-0165-0

Keywords

Navigation