Rejâne Maria Lira-da-Silva

Envenenamento por Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones; Buthidae) no Estado da Bahia, Brasil

The present investigation is a descriptive study regarding the clinical aspects of accidents caused by the scorpion Tityus stigmurus in Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed 237 confirmed cases treated by the Antivenom Information Centre (CIAVE) from 1982 to 1995. Envenomation by T. stigmurus was mainly characterized by local symptoms: pain (94.4%), dormancy (30.0%), edema (17.8%), erythema (17.8), paresthesia (15.6%) and general manifestations such as headache (4.4%), vomiting (4.4%) and sudoresis (3.3%). Most of the envenomation cases were mild (94%) and all were successfully cured. Although T. stigmurus venom is not in the pool of anti-venom serum (SAE), the absence of lethality and benign nature of the cases suggest the efficiency of SAE. With the exception of deaths and systemic complications, envenoming gravity was similar to those of Tityus serrulatus.A presente investigacao e um estudo descritivo dos aspectos clinicos dos acidentes causados pelo escorpiao Tityus stigmurus no Estado da Bahia, Brasil. Foram analisados 237 casos confirmados, tratados pelo Centro de Informacoes Antiveneno da Bahia (CIAVE), no periodo de 1982-1995. O envenenamento por T. stigmurus caracterizou-se por manifestacoes locais: dor (94,4%), dormencia (30%), edema (17,8%), eritema (17,8%) e parestesia (15,6%) e gerais: cefaleia (14%), vomitos (4,4%) e sudorese (3,3%). A maioria dos envenenamentos (94%) foi leve e todos evoluiram para cura. A ausencia de letalidade, com o restabelecimento dos pacientes, inclusive casos graves, sugere a eficacia do tratamento com o antiveneno especifico, apesar do veneno desta especie nao estar presente no pool de producao nacional do soro. Ha necessidade de revisao dos criterios regionais nos esquemas atuais de soroterapia. Os dados apontam para a semelhanca da gravidade do envenenamento por T. serrulatus, com excecao da ocorrencia de obitos e complicacoes sistemicas.

Características clínicoepidemiológicas dos acidentes ofídicos em Rio Branco, Acre

This study aimed to determine the clinical epidemiological profile of the snake bites attended at the reference hospital of Acre. One hundred-forty four patients were studied prospectively, from January to December 2002. One hundred-thirteen (78.5%) cases were classified as accidents by venomous snakes. The genera Bothrops, Lachesis and Micrurus were responsible, respectively, for 75.7%, 2.1% e 0.7% cases. The accidents predominated in males (78.5%), rural workers (51.4%) and between 10 and 29 years old (43.8%). The distribution according to the severity of poisoning by genera Bothrops was: moderate (48.6%), mild (31.2%) or severe (20.2%). Two cases of Bothrops accident did not receive serum therapy. However, the antivenom was administered in twenty-three patients without envenoming. In conclusion, the results obtained were different of the observed by another authors with respect to the severity of accidents and suitable treatment.

Envenenamento por serpentes do gênero Bothrops no Estado da Bahia: aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos

This study describes the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 655 cases of Bothrops snakebites that were attended by and/or notified to the Bahia Antivenin Information Center, State of Bahia, Brazil, in 2001. The annual incidence in the State was 5.0 cases/100,000 inhabitants and lethality was 1%. The incidence was greatest in the North Coast microregion (21.9/100,000 inhabitants) and the municipality of Itanagra (92.9/100,000 inhabitants). The snakebites occurred predominantly during the day, affecting the lower limbs of men aged 11-30 years who worked in rural areas during the rainy period. Medical care was obtained more than 13 hours after the snakebite in 19% of the cases. Moderate (47.8%) and severe (23.6%) clinical presentations prevailed. The local and systemic clinical manifestations followed the usual pattern for Bothrops snakebites in Brazil. However, a few cases presented neurological manifestations, which are not usually attributed to Bothrops snakebites. The antivenin therapy used (7.7 blisters/patient) reflected the fact that the majority of the cases were moderate. Antivenins other than the univalent type were used in 2.3% of the cases.

Effect of Bothrops leucurus venom in chick biventer cervicis preparations.

Bothrops leucurus is a poorly studied pitviper found in northeastern Brazil. We examined the action of B. leucurus venom (5-100 microg/ml) on contractile responses in chick biventer cervicis preparations. Muscle damage was assessed by quantifying the release of creatine kinase (CK) and by histological analysis. B. leucurus venom dose-dependently inhibited the contractile responses of indirectly stimulated preparations, the maximum inhibition with 100 microg of venom/ml being 74.0+/-6.6% (mean+/-SEM) after 120 min. The venom also reduced contractures to exogenous acetylcholine (55 and 110 microM) and K(+) (13.4mM) (85-100% reduction with 100 microg of venom/ml) and increased the release of CK (348+/-139 U/ml in controls vs 1260+/-263 U/ml with 20 microg of venom/ml after 120 min, p<0.05). The accompanying morphological changes included multivacuolated, swollen, amorphous fibers and agglutinated myofibrils. These results indicate that B. leucurus venom can adversely affect neuromuscular transmission and produce muscle damage in avian preparations.

Estudo retrospectivo de latrodectismo na Bahia, Brasil

This work is a retrospective study of latrodectism in the State of Bahia, Brazil, from August 1980 to July 1990. The data concerning the accidents were obtained from file cards at the Antivenom Information Center of Bahia (AVICB). Latrodectus curacavienis was the ethiologic agent identified in 28% of the arachnid accidents. The major incidence was registered in urban area (57%) affecting men (70%) more than women, with 10 to 29year-old age group (58%). Local pain (56%), erythematous papula (29%) and light oedema (17%) were the principal local symptoms. Pain in the limbs (29%), tremor and rigidities (29%), sweating (28%), limbs and arms paresthesia (21%) and abdominal pain (17%) were systemic ones. The treatment was mainly symptomatic (67%) and antivenin serum was used in 21% of the cases. After serotherapy, 64% of the patients left the hospital within less than 24 hours.

Scorpions, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil

We report herein an updated and commented list of scorpions occurring in state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Data comprising a period of 100 years (1908-2008) were obtained from seven major Brazilian collections. Twenty eight species were identified and grouped in seven genera ( Bothriurus Peters, 1861, Ananteris Thorell, 1891, Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828, Physoctonus Mello-Leitao, 1934, Rhopalurus Thorell, 1876, Tityus C.L.Koch, 1836 and Troglorhopalurus Lourenco, Baptista and Giupponi, 2004) and two families (Bothriuridae Simon, 1880 and Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837). This new list increases in 50 % the known scorpiofauna of Bahia, which now represents approximately 22 % of the Brazilian species, recorded in all biomes and phytophysiognomies from the coastal zone to high altitude areas (3-1,268 m). Seven species are endemic to Bahia and three of them could be included in the Brazilian National Red List, which would promote action plans towards their conservation.

Acidentes por escorpião em uma área do Nordeste de Amaralina, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

An epidemiological study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of individuals who referred scorpion sting accidents in a population sample from Areal, a neighborhood northeast of Amaralina, Salvador City, State of Bahia, Brazil. A random, systematic sample of 1,367 individuals was taken, corresponding to 44.4% of the total population. Eighty-two residents referred scorpion sting since they were resident in Areal, giving a prevalence coefficient of 6% (95% CI 4.7 - 7.3). The prevalence of persons stung by scorpions increased according to greater time spent in the domicile and more advanced age. It was remarkable that 92.7% of the scorpions stings occurred within the home. The incidence coefficient estimated for the most recent period of time (January to July, 2000) was 1.15 cases/1,000 inhabitants per month, comparable to the highest ever reported for an epidemic area.

Aranhas sinantrópicas em três bairros da cidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil (Arachnida, Araneae)

In order to evaluate which are the synanthropic spiders of Salvador and also to know if there exists any relationship between spider composition and time of urban occupation, this study analized 677 spiders, captured in three city neighbourhoods with different urbanization times: Santo Antonio Alem do Carmo (300-400 years), Itapua (100-300 years) and Pituba (less than 50 years). Sample size inside and outside of residences was calculated based on 10% district census and collections were carried out always by six collectors, who were also responsible for the interviews, totalling a sampling effort of 30 minutes/residence (n=71), from November/2002 to June/2003. Of a total of 329 adults, 13 species and 17 morfo-species distributed in 10 families, were recognized. Pholcidae (n=256), Oecobiidae (n=184) and Uloboridae (n=59) were the most abundant families. Oecobius concinnus, the only one Oecobiidae, appeared restricted to recent districts. Its unexpected absence in the oldest district suggests the existence of some limiting factor, that shows the need of more investigation on this poorly known species. In contrast, Smeringopus pallidus was more frequent in the oldest district and Physocyclus globosus (Pholcidae) occured in all three. There was significant differences in species abundance and structural organization of residences between the more ancient and the more recent districts. Thus, we suggest that the fact that the buildings structure remained untouched throughout the years is as a factor that favours the permanence of these species.

Avaliação da DL50 e edema pulmonar induzido pelo veneno de Tityus serrulatus (Scorpiones; Buthidae) procedente da Bahia, Brasil

Tityus serrulatus is the most important scorpion species, which cause most accidents and induces the most serious forms of poisoning in Brazil. In the present study we investigate the toxicity and pulmonary-edema induced ability of specimens from the metropolitan region of Salvador (RMS) and south-central Bahia (SCB), state of Bahia, Brazil. Male Swiss mice (18-22g) had been used to evaluate the toxicity by the Finney method (1971). The LDs50 tested in mice weighing 18-20 g was 96,16 mg/mice. This value represents 3 to 7 times lesser than the toxicity of T. serrulatus from other regions of Brazil. Also, the venom does not induce pulmonary edema, as assessed by the weight difference between the tested and control lung. Our results demonstrate marked variation in the lethal and the pulmonary-induced edema of Tityus serrulatus venom from RMS and SCB. These results could explain the absence of death and pulmonary complications of scorpion envenomation in some regions of Bahia, Brazil.

Vital network for Brazil: national network of information, discussion and cooperation concerning venomous animals

Regional Center of Ophiology and Venomous Animals (NOAP) Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia State