Mercedes Quiroga

An epidemiological review of scorpion stings in Venezuela: the Northeastern region

In Venezuela, the restricted manner of works on scorpion envenoming has contributed little to the real magnitude and knowledge of this subject in our country. The lack of basic scorpiofauna knowledge, distribution, clinical manifestations, and especially of specific treatments justify multidisciplinary studies. The purpose of these studies is to obtain information that allows the elaboration of a preventive plan. This paper demonstrates the magnitude of scorpion envenomings in Venezuela.

Scorpion poisoning in the Acosta and Caripe Counties of Monagas State, Venezuela. part 1: characterization of some epidemiological aspects

Scorpion poisoning was surveyed in Acosta and Caripe counties, located in the Turimiquire subregion of Monagas State, Venezuela, aiming to expand information on stings by characterizing some epidemiological aspects. From 1987 to 1993, 298 cases of scorpion stings were recorded in Acosta and Caripe counties. Acosta had 212 cases, with an annual incidence rate of 18.3 (cases per 10,000 inhabitants) and a period median incidence rate of 128 . The scorpion poisoning index is 4.18 times greater in Acosta than in Caripe, confirming the former as a hyperendemic zone for this type of injury, with a phenomenon of cyclical temporal fluctuations and an upward trend. This area is infested with scorpions of the genus Tityus. Our results show that the region surveyed in Monagas State is endemic for scorpion stings, posing a major public health problem.

Scorpion sting epidemiology in Montes municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela: geographic distribution

Scorpion stings were surveyed in the Montes Municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela, aiming to extend the information on these poisonous accidents by characterizing their geographic distribution. From 1980 to 1990, 184 cases of scorpion stings were recorded with an incidence rate of 38.6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The locality of San Fernando presented the highest incidence (68.3/1000) of poisonous accidents. The highest percentages of severe cases were recorded in the towns of Arenas (27%), San Lorenzo (21%), and Cocollar (19%), which are located at the foot of the Turimiquire Mountains. This region is a dispersion area of scorpions of the Tityus genus. Our results show that this region of the State of Sucre is endemic for scorpion stings which are an important public health problem.

The description of Tityus caripitensis . A new venezuelan scorpion (scorpionida, buthidae)

This paper describes a new species of scorpion of the Tityus genus, Tityus caripitensis (Scorpionida: Buthidae). This species can be found in Caripito, Bolivar municipality of Monagas State, Venezuela. The number of species of Tityus genus in Venezuela has increased to 37 with the inclusion of Tityus caripitensis. A diagnosis of the most significant morphological characteristics of both males and females of this new species, which has been causing serious envenomings in the Bolivar and Punceres municipalities, has been carried out.