Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations

Lionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (19972014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations.

Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations

Lionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (1997-2014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations.(AU)

Efectos tóxicos y manejo de las lesiones provocadas por el pez león (Pteroisvolitans, P. miles) / Toxic effects and management and injuries caused by the lion fish(Pteroisvolitan, P. miles)

El Pez León (Pterois volitans y Pteroismiles), especie registrada como invasora en el Atlántico occidental; se ha constituido en un poderoso depredador gracias a que no tiene un antagonista natural en la segunda barrera coralina más grande del mundo, poniendo en riesgo a las especies marinas endémicas de la zona, así com o a nadadores, buzos recreativos, comerciales y pescadores que entran en contacto con el pez. El pinchazo del pez león es venenoso, tiene aproximadamente 17 espinas dorsales,pélvicas y anal, cada uno contiene un tubo que se conecta al extremo de una glándula venenosa que segrega 3 a 10mg de veneno por espina. El mecanismo de intoxicación se produce cuando la persona pisa o toca al pez, ejerciendo presión sobre las espinas y al penetrar la piel las glándulas venenosas liberan el veneno. La toxina inoculada puede causar dolor intenso, fiebre, parálisis respiratoria humana e insuficiencia circulatoria. La toxicidad del veneno es debida a antigénicos de proteínas de alto peso molecular. El tratamiento se basa en la termolabilidad de dichas proteínas, bloquear la respuesta inflamatoria sistémica y las posibles complicaciones. Con esta revisión bibliográfica se pretende ampliar sobre los efectos tóxicos y el manejo de las lesiones provocadas por el pez león, a fin de informar a la comunidad médica hondureña de los problemas de salud causada...