FYI
Another suggestion as to the cause of fireworm inflammations in humans. I don't have access, and I don't know the authors' emails, but you can buy access to this three page article for GBP 24 should you wish.
Nakamura, K.; Tachikawa, Y.; Kitamura, M.; Ohno, O.; Suganuma, M. ; Uemura, D. 2008: Complanine, an inflammation-inducing substance isolated from the marine fireworm Eurythoe complanata. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 6 (12): 2058 - 2060.
http://www.rsc.org/publishing/journals/OB/article.asp?doi=b803107j
Abstract: "The marine fireworm, Eurythoe complanata, is known as a dangerous animal for humans because it induces skin inflammation through its small setae. Here, the inflammation-inducing substance was successfully isolated from the whole body using a methanolic extraction, and the inflammatory activity was determined using a bioassay. The structure was spectroscopically revealed to be a trimethylammonium with an unsaturated carbon chain and was named complanine. Complanine enhanced PKC activity in combination with TPA in vitro. This may explain the molecular mechanism behind its inflammation-inducing activity.
While I'm on the topic, here is a recent open access paper on taxonomy of Eurythoe complanata & Hermodice carunculata
Barroso, R. ; Paiva, P. C. 2007: Amphinomidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Rocas Atoll, Northeastern Brazil. Arquivos do Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro 65(3): 357-362.
http://www.biologia.ufrj.br/labs/labpoly/BarrosoPaiva2007.pdf
Abstract: "Three amphinomid species from Rocas Atoll - Northeastern Brazil are reported. The re-description of Eurythoe complanata, Hermodice carunculata and the description of Linopherus cf. canariensis is provided.
Geoff
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Geoff Read <g.read from niwa.co.nz>
http://www.annelida.net/http://www.niwascience.co.nz/ncabb/
