Received: January 7, 2005, Accepted: May 2, 2005, Published online: February 24, 2006.

Loxosceles SPIDER BITES IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL: 1993-2000

MARQUES-DA-SILVA E. (1), SOUZA-SANTOS R. (2), FISCHER M. L. (3),

RUBIO G. B. G. (4)

(1) Section of Venomous Animals, Center for the Production and Research on Immunobiologicals, Health Institute of Paraná, Paraná State Secretariat of Health, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; (2) Samuel Pessoa Department of Endemies, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil; (3) Department of Biology, CCBS, Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil; (4) Division of Zoonoses and Intoxications, Center of Environmental Health, Health Institute of Paraná, Paraná State Secretariat of Health, Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: This study presents the epidemiological analysis of 20,699 reported spider bites involving the Loxosceles genus in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from 1993 to 2000. The incidence rate in the period was 290.24/100,000 inhabitants. The results show that 95.04% of the accidents occurred in two Health Regions of the state: greater metropolitan Curitiba (92.9%) and Irati (2.14%). The major incidence was recorded in greater metropolitan Curitiba (559.1/100,000). Loxosceles bites were more frequent in females (61%) than in males. Antivenin therapy was not necessary in 95.4% (19,662) of the cases. From the cases in which information about the time elapsed between the bite and medical treatment was recorded (9,679), 31.8% received treatment from 6 to 48 hours after the bite. Among the cases with severity rate recorded (12,096), 2.1% were severe, 50.4% moderate, and 47.4% mild. Seven deaths from Loxosceles bites were recorded, corresponding to a fatality rate of 0.03%.

KEY WORDS: Loxosceles, spiders, epidemiology, venomous animals, Brazil.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

EMANUEL MARQUES DA SILVA, Seção de Animais Peçonhentos, Centro de Produção e Pesquisa de Imunobiológicos, Instituto de Saúde do Paraná, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Paraná, 83.302-160, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. Phone: +55 41 3673 8828. Fax: +55 41 3673 8811. Email: ems@pr.gov.br