ABSTRACT
Snake envenomation by Bothrops asper is a common problem affecting cattle raising and rural workers in farms across Latin America. Control of hemorrhage must often be ensured at the site of the accident, as medical care and antivenom therapy might not be available on the premises. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of homeopathic medicine Phosphorus 6cH, biotherapy Bothrops asper 6cH and a homeopathic formula on hemorrhage induced by B. asper envenomation. Groups of mice received the investigated treatments before and after envenomation (minimal hemorrhagic dose) and the diameter and intensity of hemorrhage were assessed. When administered before envenomation, all 3 treatments reduced the hemorrhage diameter; the best results were achieved with formula administered 14 days before envenomation and Phos 6cH 7 days before. Among the animals treated after envenomation, Phos 6cH in 4 doses/hour exhibited the best results in terms of hemorrhage diameter and intensity. We conclude that both homeopathy and biotherapy exhibit considerable potential as alternative treatment to reduce hemorrhage induced by B. asper venom. (AU)
Acidentes por Bothrops asper afetam frequentemente o gado e trabalhadores rurais em toda a América Latina. Dado que tanto atenção médica quanto tratamento antiofídico podem não estar disponíveis no local do acidente, é necessário controlar a hemorragia in loco. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do medicamento homeopático Phosphorus 6cH, bioterápico Bothrops asper 6cH e um complexo homeopático na hemorragia induzida por B. asper. Diferentes grupos de camundongos receberam os medicamentos testados antes e depois do envenenamento (dose hemorrágica mínima) e foram medidos o diâmetro e a intensidade da hemorragia. Quando administrados antes do envenenamento, os 3 tratamentos reduziram o diâmetro da hemorragia, obtendo-se os melhores resultados com o complexo administrado 14 dias antes e Phos 6cH 7 dias antes. Entre os animais tratados depois do envenamento, os melhores resultados em termos de diâmetro e intensidade da hemorragia foram obtidos com Phos 6cH em 4 doses/hora. Conclui-se que tanto a homeopatia quanto o bioterápico apresentam grande potencial como tratamento alternativo para reduzir a hemorragia induzida por B. asper. (AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Biotherapics , Homeopathy , /therapeutic use , Snake Bites , BothropsABSTRACT
Snake envenomation by Bothrops asper is a common problem affecting cattle raising and rural workers in farms across Latin America. Control of hemorrhage must often be ensured at the site of the accident, as medical care and antivenom therapy might not be available on the premises. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of homeopathic medicine Phosphorus 6cH, biotherapy Bothrops asper 6cH and a homeopathic formula on hemorrhage induced by B. asper envenomation. Groups of mice received the investigated treatments before and after envenomation (minimal hemorrhagic dose) and the diameter and intensity of hemorrhage were assessed. When administered before envenomation, all 3 treatments reduced the hemorrhage diameter; the best results were achieved with formula administered 14 days before envenomation and Phos 6cH 7 days before. Among the animals treated after envenomation, Phos 6cH in 4 doses/hour exhibited the best results in terms of hemorrhage diameter and intensity. We conclude that both homeopathy and biotherapy exhibit considerable potential as alternative treatment to reduce hemorrhage induced by B. asper venom. (AU)
Acidentes por Bothrops asper afetam frequentemente o gado e trabalhadores rurais em toda a América Latina. Dado que tanto atenção médica quanto tratamento antiofídico podem não estar disponíveis no local do acidente, é necessário controlar a hemorragia in loco. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do medicamento homeopático Phosphorus 6cH, bioterápico Bothrops asper 6cH e um complexo homeopático na hemorragia induzida por B. asper. Diferentes grupos de camundongos receberam os medicamentos testados antes e depois do envenenamento (dose hemorrágica mínima) e foram medidos o diâmetro e a intensidade da hemorragia. Quando administrados antes do envenenamento, os 3 tratamentos reduziram o diâmetro da hemorragia, obtendo-se os melhores resultados com o complexo administrado 14 dias antes e Phos 6cH 7 dias antes. Entre os animais tratados depois do envenamento, os melhores resultados em termos de diâmetro e intensidade da hemorragia foram obtidos com Phos 6cH em 4 doses/hora. Conclui-se que tanto a homeopatia quanto o bioterápico apresentam grande potencial como tratamento alternativo para reduzir a hemorragia induzida por B. asper. (AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Biotherapics , Snake Bites , Homeopathy , /therapeutic use , BothropsABSTRACT
Abstract:Approximately 2 000 scorpion species can be found around the world; although few species are considered "harmful" to human beings, a high number of scorpionism cases are reported all over the world. The elaboration of anti-scorpion sera requires the establishment of an animal collection maintained in captivity for venom extraction purposes. The Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP, for its acronym in Spanish), poses a vast trajectory in manufacturing snakebite antivenoms, and starts a scorpion collection in 2005 for this purpose. In total, 2 043 scorpions were classified in 11 species and collected during a seven-year period using a black-light flashlight and an intensive seeking methodology. The scorpions were collected from several localities of the Pacific and the Caribbean versants of Costa Rica. The venom extraction was performed by applying electrostimulation; the collected venom was characterized by total protein content in addition to median lethal doses. Centruroidesbicolor showed higher amounts of venom yield, total protein content and more lethal dose, all of which were correlated with its body mass. The techniques used to keep scorpions in captivity allowed the animals to live several years. Longevity analysis showed significant differences among scorpion genera (H= 353.80; df= 3; P < 0.0001); moreover, the genus Didymocentrus lived longer with an average of 4.46 years. One key factor of its longevity was that it did not go through venom extraction processes. Additionally, a high survival rate of Tityuspachyurus born in captivity, compared to other species within the same genus, was observed (H= 94.32; df= 3; P < 0.0001). This characteristic should be taken into consideration, when programs of reproduction in captivity are designed. In conclusion, the maintenance of a scorpion collection was efficient for venom extraction purposes and a longer life expectancy of the animals. Moreover, there is a scarcity on publications regarding scorpion maintenance in captivity for venom extraction purposes; therefore, a deeper research in aspects such as reproduction, death causes and feeding behaviors is required. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (3): 1019-1027. Epub 2016 September 01.
ResumenExisten alrededor de 2 000 especies de escorpiones en el mundo y a pesar de que muy pocas de ellas son consideradas peligrosas para el ser humano se presentan muchos casos de escorpionismo alrededor del mundo. La elaboración de suero antiescorpiónico requiere en primera instancia del establecimiento de una colección en cautiverio para la extracción del veneno, razón por la cual el Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP), con una amplia trayectoria en la elaboración de suero antiofídico, inicia en el 2005 una colección para dicho fin. En total 2 043 escorpiones clasificados en 11 especies fueron recolectados en un periodo de siete años mediante búsqueda intensiva con luz ultravioleta en varias localidades de la vertiente Pacífica, así como la vertiente Atlántica de Costa Rica. Las extracciones de veneno se realizaron con electro-estimulación, y el veneno recolectado fue caracterizado por el contenido total de proteínas, además se realizaron pruebas de letalidad, siendo Centruroides bicolor el más letal y el que presento los valores más altos en cantidad de veneno y proteínas totales lo cual es consecuente con su masa corporal. Las técnicas empleadas en el mantenimiento en cautiverio de los escorpiones permitieron que los escorpiones vivieran varios años, en un análisis de la longevidad se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre los géneros (H = 353.80; g.l = 3; P < 0.0001), siendo el género Didymocentrus el más longevo con un promedio de 4.46 años, un factor importante de su longevidad es el hecho de no haber formado parte del proceso de extracción. También se pudo evidenciar una alta supervivencia de crías nacidas en cautiverio de la especie Tityus pachyurus con respecto a las otras especies del mismo género (H = 94.32; g.l = 3; P < 0.0001), resultado que puede ser tomado en cuenta para reproducir esta especie en cautiverio. El mantenimiento de la colección de escorpiones fue eficiente para el proceso de extracción de veneno y para una supervivencia prolongada de los animales. Existen muy pocas publicaciones en lo que se refiere al mantenimiento de escorpiones en cautiverio para la extracción de veneno por lo que se requiere de una investigación más profunda en aspectos como la reproducción, las causas de muerte y la alimentación.