Dangerous scorpion fauna of Mali

Goyffon M (1), Dabo A (2, 3), Coulibaly SK (2, 4), Togo G (2), Chippaux JP (5, 6)

(1) National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France; (2) School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, Bamako, UMI 3189

Mali; (3) University of Science, Techniques and Technology, Bamako, Mali; (4) Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Faculty

of Sciences, Ibn Tofaïl University, Kenitra, Morocco; (5) Center for the Study and Research of Malaria Associated with

Pregnancy and Childhood (Cerpage), Cotonou, Benin; (6) Institute of Research for Development (IRD - UMR 216 ”r;Mother

and child facing tropical diseases”), Cotonou, Benin.

Abstract: Although the main Malian scorpion species of medical interest, Androctonus amoreuxi, is responsible for severe envenomings and perhaps some deaths, it has hitherto been considered not dangerous for humans. This population is located in the Saharian North-Eastern regions of Mali where it is accompanied by Leiurus quinquestriatus, a well known dangerous species of the Sahara. In the Gao district, divided by the Niger River, less desolate than the Tessalit and Kidal regions, one specimen of the dangerous species Androctonus australis was found. To summarize, Mali harbors at least three dangerous scorpion species: Leiurus quinquestriatus, Androctonus amoreuxi and A. australis, the latter recently having been identified in Mali for the first time. The absence of Androctonus aeneas is surprising in this context because it is found in neighboring countries (Algeria, Niger) and should be detected by new surveys. The possibility of preparing a single scorpion antivenom intended for Saharian and sub-Saharian populations is discussed.

Key words: scorpions, Mali, dangerous species, Androctonus sp., antivenom.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Roland Stockmann for participating in the determination of scorpions.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2012

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: September 19, 2012.

Accepted: October 23, 2012.

Abstract published online: November 9, 2012.

Full paper published online: November 30, 2012.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

Max Goyffon, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France. Phone: 33 1 40 793154. Fax: 33 1 40 793441. Email: mgoyffon@mnhn.fr.