Received: February 7, 2008.

Accepted: May 14, 2008.

Abstract published online: June 12, 2007.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2008.

BITE BY MORAY EEL

BARREIROS JP (1), HADDAD JR V (2, 3)

(1) Department of Agrarian Sciences and IMAR Açores, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal; (2) Department of Dermatology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil; (3) Hospital Vital Brasil, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Injuries caused by moray eels are not a common problem, but are distributed throughout the globe, affecting mainly fishermen while manipulating hooked or netted fish. On a lesser scale, scuba divers and snorkelers, practicing or not spear fishing, are occasional victims of bites. With more than 185 species distributed among 15 genera, mostly in tropical to temperate shallow water, moray eels easily come into contact with humans and occasional injuries are not uncommon. The current study reports one case of moray eel bite and discusses the circumstances in which the accident happened, as well as wound evolution and therapy.

KEY WORDS: dangerous marine fish, moray eels, bites in humans.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

VIDAL HADDAD JÚNIOR, Departamento de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Caixa Postal 557, 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brasil. Phone/fax: +55 14 3882 4922. Email: haddadjr@fmb.unesp.br.