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Poster 186. Congresso da Sociedade Brasileira de Toxinologia, 8., Symposium of the Pan American Section of the International Society on Toxinology, 8., 2004, Angra dos Reis, Brasil. Abstracts... J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl.Trop. Dis., 2004, 10, 3, p.545. |
Clinical, Epidemiological and Toxinologic Aspects of Tityus fuehrmanni Scorpion Envenoming in Colombia.
Gómez, J.P.; Otero, R.; Núñez, V.; Saldarriaga, M.; Díaz, A.; Velásquez, P. and Barona, J.
Programa de Ofidismo / Escorpionismo, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín.
To determine the clinical and epidemiological features of T. fuehrmanni scorpion stings in a sector of the Aburrá Valley, Medellín city, and the toxinologic aspects of the experimental envenoming in mice, a study was performed within one year in a sample of 9% of the houses (180) and of the population from El Volador hill area and two of its contiguous neighborhoods (719 inhabitants). Gathering of alive specimens (128) and venom collect were included for the experimental study. Tityusfuerhrmanni was the only one scorpion species found in the study area, with a dispersion rate of 100% and high infestation of houses located on the hill and in the neighborhood San Germán (100% and 32,3%, respectively). Thirty two scorpion stings were reported during one year, 7 (21,9%) in children, 15 (46,9%) at El Volador hill and 31,2% at the neighborhood San Germán, for sting rates of 83% and 3,9%, respectively. Eighteen (56,3%) of the stings were inside of the dwellings mainly on a hand (31,3%), head or neck (18,8%) and during the night or in the morning (62,5%). The envenoming grade was mild (local pain, perilesional edema, paresthesia) in 29 cases (90.6%), and moderate in 3 children (9,4%) who had systemic signs (generalized sweating, abdominal pain, tachycardia, drowsiness). There were no severe cases. Tityusfuehrmanni venom yield was 0,56 ± 0,27 mg (Mean ± S.D. of 35 specimens, three determinations for everyone). The i.p. LD50 was 79.2 µg / mouse 18 – 20 g (3.9 mg venom / kg). Alacramynâ, an anti-Centruroides spp fabotherapic produced by Instituto Bioclón, México, and two other anti-Tityus spp antivenoms from Venezuela and Brazil, recognized by Western-blot different protein bands of venom. Sialorrhea, piloerection, drowsiness, generalized sweating, tachypnea, cyanosis, ataxia and seizures before expiring, were the most common signs of envenoming in mice. The rapid onset (10 - 15 min) of the envenoming signs in mice, after i.p. venom injection, as well as fast melioration (2 hours) in the survivors, allow us to conclude that the venom is of fast absorption, distribution and elimination.
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