50-Envenomation caused by Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Pará State, Brazil

¹Laboratory of Chemistry and Biological Macromolecule Structure, Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarém, ParáState, Brazil

²Laboratory of Ecology and Animal Behavior, Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarém, Pará State, Brazil

³Laboratory of Physiology and Animal Toxins (Fistox), Institute of Educational Sciences, Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Caranazal, Santarém, Pará State CEP 68040-470, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Scorpions, mainly those belonging to the genus Tityus cause many deaths and injuries in Brazil, with tens of thousands of envenomations notified every year. However, injuries involving other scorpion species are scarcely registered. Among the sixteen species of the genus Rhopalurus, Thorell, 1876, described up to date, nine are found in this country, with only a confirmed case of human envenomation provoked by R. agamemnon Koch, 1839. The present case reports, for the first time, a case of scorpion sting in a human victim involving Rhopalurus amazonicus, endemic species of the west region of the Pará state, Amazon, Brazil. The symptoms of envenomation were local pain and paresthesia. This study contributes to develop the knowledge on venomous scorpions, particularly those that may cause envenomations in this region.

Key words: Scorpion sting; Rhopalurus amazonicus; Venomous animals; Envenomation; Brazilian Amazon; Pará

Received: September 18, 2014; Accepted: December 2, 2014

Corresponding author:Joacir S Oliveira jstolarz@ig.com.br

Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions: DFS and JSO analyzed data and prepared the manuscript for publication. APS Jr helped in data acquisition and image processing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.