ABSTRACT
The Brazilian Amazon is home to a rich fauna of scorpion species of medical importance, some of them still poorly characterized regarding their biological actions and range of clinical symptoms after envenoming. The Amazonian scorpion species Tityus strandi and Tityus dinizi constitute some of the scorpions in this group, with few studies in the literature regarding their systemic repercussions. In the present study, we characterized the clinical, inflammatory, and histopathological manifestations of T. strandi and T. dinizi envenoming in a murine model using Balb/c mice. The results show a robust clinical response based on clinical score, hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, increased cytokines, and histopathological changes in the kidneys and lungs. Tityus strandi envenomed mice presented more prominent clinical manifestations when compared to Tityus dinizi, pointing to the relevance of this species in the medical scenario, with both species inducing hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, increased cytokine production in the peritoneal lavage, increased inflammatory infiltrate in the lungs, and acute tubular necrosis after T. strandi envenoming. The results presented in this research can help to understand the systemic manifestations of scorpion accidents in humans caused by the target species of the study and point out therapeutic strategies in cases of scorpionism in remote regions of the Amazon.
Subject(s)
Mice, Inbred BALB C , Scorpion Stings , Scorpion Venoms , Scorpions , Animals , Scorpion Venoms/toxicity , Mice , Disease Models, Animal , Cytokines/metabolism , Brazil , Leukocytosis/chemically induced , Lung/pathology , Lung/drug effects , Male , Kidney/pathology , Kidney/drug effects , FemaleABSTRACT
Scorpionism is a relevant medical condition in Brazil. It is responsible for most accidents involving venomous animals in the country, which leads to severe symptoms that can evolve to death. In recent years, an increase of almost 50% in the incidence of scorpionism has been observed in the Northern Region, where the highest severity of envenoming has been notified since the beginning of the 21st century. This review aims to provide an in-depth assessment of public data and reports on symptoms and epidemiology of envenoming, ecological aspects of scorpions, and characterization of venoms and toxins to access the gaps that need to be filled in the knowledge of the scorpion species of medical importance from the Brazilian Amazon. A systematic search using the string words "Amazon" and "scorpion" was performed on 11 databases. No restriction on date, language or status of the publication was applied. Reports not related to the Brazilian Amazon were excluded. Therefore, 88 studies remained. It is shown that populations of scorpions of medical importance, even of the same species, may present significant toxic variations peculiar to some regions in the Brazilian Amazon, and commercial scorpion antivenoms were not able to shorten the intensity and duration of neurological manifestations in patients stung by T. silvestris, T. apiacas or T. obscurus. It is also highlighted that the toxins responsible for triggering these alterations have not been elucidated yet and this is a fruitful field for the development of more efficient antivenoms. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of scorpions of the genus Tityus in the Brazilian Amazon was revised and updated. The cumulative and detailed information provided in this review may help physicians and scientists interested in scorpionism in the Brazilian Amazon.
ABSTRACT
Scorpionism is a relevant medical condition in Brazil. It is responsible for most accidents involving venomous animals in the country, which leads to severe symptoms that can evolve to death. In recent years, an increase of almost 50% in the incidence of scorpionism has been observed in the Northern Region, where the highest severity of envenoming has been notified since the beginning of the 21st century. This review aims to provide an in-depth assessment of public data and reports on symptoms and epidemiology of envenoming, ecological aspects of scorpions, and characterization of venoms and toxins to access the gaps that need to be filled in the knowledge of the scorpion species of medical importance from the Brazilian Amazon. A systematic search using the string words "Amazon" and "scorpion" was performed on 11 databases. No restriction on date, language or status of the publication was applied. Reports not related to the Brazilian Amazon were excluded. Therefore, 88 studies remained. It is shown that populations of scorpions of medical importance, even of the same species, may present significant toxic variations peculiar to some regions in the Brazilian Amazon, and commercial scorpion antivenoms were not able to shorten the intensity and duration of neurological manifestations in patients stung by T. silvestris, T. apiacas or T. obscurus. It is also highlighted that the toxins responsible for triggering these alterations have not been elucidated yet and this is a fruitful field for the development of more efficient antivenoms. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of scorpions of the genus Tityus in the Brazilian Amazon was revised and updated. The cumulative and detailed information provided in this review may help physicians and scientists interested in scorpionism in the Brazilian Amazon.(AU)