True or false coral snake: is it worth the risk? A Micrurus corallinus case report

 

Marcelo Abrahão Strauch^1 2, Guilherme Jones Souza^1 4, Jordana Nahar Pereira³, Tyelli dos Santos Ramos¹, Marcelo Oliveira Cesar^1 2, Marcelo Amorim Tomaz², Marcos Monteiro-Machado², Fernando Chagas Patrão-Neto², Paulo A. Melo²

 

1 Vital Brazil Institute, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.

2 Laboratory of Pharmacology of Toxins, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

3 Hospital das Clínicas Constantino Ottaviano, Teresópolis, RJ, Brazil.

4 Postgraduate Program in Teaching of Science, Environment and Society, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

 

ABSTRACT

Background

Bites provoked by the genus Micrurus represent less than 1% of snakebite cases notified in Brazil, a tiny fraction compared with other genus such as Bothrops and Crotalus, which together represent almost 80% of accidents. In addition to their less aggressive behavior, habits and morphology of coral snakes are determinant factors for such low incidence of accidents. Although Micrurus bites are rare, victims must be rescued and hospitalized in a short period of time, because this type of envenoming may evolve to a progressive muscle weakness and acute respiratory failure.

 

Case Presentation

We report an accident caused by Micrurus corallinus involving a 28-year-old Caucasian sailor man bitten on the hand. The accident occurred in a recreational camp because people believed the snake was not venomous. The victim presented neurological symptoms 2 h after the accident and was taken to the hospital, where he received antielapidic serum 10 h after the bite. After the antivenom treatment, the patient presented clinical evolution without complications and was discharged 4 days later.

 

Conclusions

We reinforce that it is essential to have a health care structure suitable for the treatment of snakebite. Besides, the manipulation of these animals should only be carried out by a team of well-equipped and trained professionals, and even so with special attention.

 

Keywords Coral snake; Envenoming; Micrurus spp.; Snakebites; Ophidism

 

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

 

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

 

Consent for publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.

 

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Published online: 10 April 2018