Amazonian scorpions and scorpionism: integrating toxinological, clinical, and phylogenetic data to combat a human health crisis in the world's most diverse rainfores

Venom from Amazonian scorpions of the genus Tityus contains components capable of eliciting a distinct clinical, mostly neurological, syndrome. This contrasts with the mainly autonomic manifestations produced after envenomation by congeneric southern and northern South American species. Herein, we summarize Pan-Amazonian scorpionism by synthesizing available toxinological, clinical, and molecular data gathered from all affected areas in Amazonia, including Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and French Guiana. We searched multiple databases, as well as our own records, for reports of scorpion envenomations in Amazonia by confirmed Tityus spp., and compared the clinical manifestations. To help uncover clinical and venom relationships among problematic species, we explored phylogenetic relationships with a rate-calibrated analysis of mitochondrial COI data from available species. The possible existence of diversity gradients for venom toxic and immunogenic components despite the predicted strong phylogenetic association among species is underscored by discussed clinical and toxinological findings. A multicentric effort, involving all nations affected by this neglected disease, is urgently needed to offer alternatives for treating and understanding this pathology, including the preparation of neutralizing antibodies with a broad range of efficacy.(AU)

Amazonian scorpions and scorpionism: integrating toxinological, clinical, and phylogenetic data to combat a human health crisis in the worlds most diverse rainfores

Abstract Venom from Amazonian scorpions of the genus Tityus contains components capable of eliciting a distinct clinical, mostly neurological, syndrome. This contrasts with the mainly autonomic manifestations produced after envenomation by congeneric southern and northern South American species. Herein, we summarize Pan-Amazonian scorpionism by synthesizing available toxinological, clinical, and molecular data gathered from all affected areas in Amazonia, including Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and French Guiana. We searched multiple databases, as well as our own records, for reports of scorpion envenomations in Amazonia by confirmed Tityus spp., and compared the clinical manifestations. To help uncover clinical and venom relationships among problematic species, we explored phylogenetic relationships with a rate-calibrated analysis of mitochondrial COI data from available species. The possible existence of diversity gradients for venom toxic and immunogenic components despite the predicted strong phylogenetic association among species is underscored by discussed clinical and toxinological findings. A multicentric effort, involving all nations affected by this neglected disease, is urgently needed to offer alternatives for treating and understanding this pathology, including the preparation of neutralizing antibodies with a broad range of efficacy.

Ocorrência de Rhopalurus debilis (C.L. Koch, 1840) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) no estado da Bahia, Brasil / x

Este trabalho assinala a ocorrência de Rhopalurus debilis (C.L. Koch, 1841), no estado da Bahia, Brasil, acrescentando mais uma espécie à sua escorpiofauna e reforçando a importância do estudo regionalizado desses animais. Sete escorpiões (2 machos, 4 fêmeas e 1 jovem) foram coletados no município de Curaçá (08° 59' 31"S/ 39° 54' 29"W), entre os dias 14 e 16 de março de 2003, registrados no Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia e Animais Peçonhentos da Bahia (NOAP) e tombados no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia. Este registro revela uma nova ocorrência desta espécie, na margem direita do rio São Francisco.

This work reports the occurrence of Rhopalurus debilis (C.L. Koch, 1840), in the state of Bahia, Brazil, adding a species to its escorpiofauna and highlighting the importance of carrying out regional studies on these animals. Seven scorpions (2 males, 4 females and 1 young) were collected in the city of Curaçá (08° 59° 31°S/39° 54° 29°W), from March 14th to 16th, 2003. They were recorded in the Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia e Animais Peçonhentos da Bahia (NOAP) and included in the Scientific Collection of Scorpions of the Federal University of Bahia. These specimens represent a new record of this species in the right riverbank of the São Francisco river.