Sri Lankan Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus) Attacks on Humans.

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is an omnivore that has been reported around most parts of South Asia. Although rare, sloth bear attacks can inflict potentially life-threatening injuries. This cross-sectional study analyzed 10 patients who had been mauled by sloth bears and who presented to rural hospitals in the Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka between 2015 and 2019. All of the patients were male farmers. The human-bear encounters occurred in the jungle during the daytime. Ten victims sustained multiple soft tissue and bone injuries, mainly to the face and arms. The injuries ranged from minor abrasions to extensive deep lacerations and bone fractures. All of the patients were managed in the tertiary care hospital by multidisciplinary surgical teams. Sloth bear-inflicted wounds must be treated as major trauma. There is a need to formulate guidelines and train medical officers in managing animal-inflicted injuries in Sri Lanka.

Penetrating Injuries Following Spotted Deer Axis axis ceylonensis Attack.

The spotted deer Axis axis is a Cervidae mammal that lives in most parts of Southeast Asia. Spotted deer attacks on humans are scarcely reported in the literature and are a rare phenomenon. A 31-y-old man was attacked by an unprovoked male spotted deer while supervising maintenance inside a deer enclosure. The victim received deep lacerations in the lower limbs and puncture wounds in the chest and abdomen. The victim made a full recovery after prompt management at a tertiary care hospital. The potential factors leading to this uncommon attack are discussed.

Close Encounter With a Prickly Soccer Ball: An Injury From an Indian Crested Porcupine.

The Indian crested porcupine, Hystrix indica, is a large rodent with the unique feature of long quills. These quills are an integral part of its defense mechanism against predators. Injuries resulting from human contact with quills may cause pain, bleeding, and swelling. Quill-related injuries are common among animals such as dogs, cats, and some wild animals. The mechanism of injury, consequences, and management of injuries to humans from H indica quills are rarely described. In this report, we describe the injuries and management of a man who sustained injury from H indica quills.

Freshwater Catfish Envenoming in a Tropical Country.

OBJECTIVE: Freshwater catfish are known to cause painful stings in humans. Stings usually cause mild envenomation and, in some instances, can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections. Sri Lanka is a tropical country where catfish stings are not rare. However, presenting signs and symptoms, complications, and management options are scarce in the literature. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing patient records in the university surgical units and surgical clinic in the teaching hospital in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, during 2015. RESULTS: Ten patients presented to the hospital following catfish stings. The common presenting features following stings were severe pain, swelling, and lymphadenopathy followed by cellulitis. Late complication such as tenosynovitis were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Routine procedures are sufficient to reduce further complications. However, people who are at high risk of encountering catfish, and travelers visiting tropical countries, should be aware of the possibility of stings and take necessary precautions.