Scorpionism in Central America, with special reference to the case of Panama

Borges A (1, 2, 3, 4), Miranda RJ (4), aaPascale JM (3)

(1) Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Toxins and Receptors, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela; (2) Faculty of Medicine, University of Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama; (3) Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama; (4) Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Republic of Panama.

Abstract: Scorpionism in the Americas occurs mainly in Mexico, northern South America and southeast Brazil. This article reviews the local scorpion fauna, available health statistics, and the literature to assess scorpionism in Central America. Notwithstanding its high toxicity in Mexico, most scorpion sting cases in Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica are produced by species in the genus Centruroides that are only mildly toxic to humans despite the existence of ion channel-active toxins in their venoms. Regional morbidity is low with the exception of Panama, where an incidence of 52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants was recorded for 2007, with 28 deaths from 1998 to 2006. Taxa belonging to the genus Tityus (also present in the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica) are responsible for fatalities in Panama, with Tityus pachyurus being the most important species medically. Most Tityus species inhabiting Panama are also found in northern South America from which they probably migrated upon closure of the Panamanian isthmus in the Miocene era. Incorporation of Panama as part of the northern South American endemic area of scorpionism is thereby suggested based on the incidence of these accidents and the geographical distribution of Panamanian Tityus species.

Key words: scorpionism, Central America, Tityus, Centruroides, scorpions.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: January 5, 2012.

Accepted: February 29, 2012.

Abstract published online: March 6, 2012.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENACYT) from Panama is gratefully acknowledged for financial support through research grants SUM08-005 and COL10- 045, whose goals inspired this review.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Adolfo Borges, Instituto de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado Postal 50587, Caracas 1050, Venezuela. Phone: +58212 6053608. Fax: +58212 6628877. Email: borges.adolfo@gmail.com.