[A survey on the venomous snakes of the vicinity of Kindia (Guinea) and considerations on the treatment of snakebite]. / Etude epidémiologique des serpents venimeux et prise en charge des envenimations a Kindia (Guinée).

Between June and December 2004, snake collections were undertaken in eight villages of the vicinity of Kindia, an area of Guinea Conakry where the incidence of snakebite is among the highest reported in the world. A total of 916 specimens were collected, including 90 Elapidae (9.8 %) and 174 Viperidae (19.0%). The Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis was represented by eight specimens, i.e. almost 1% of the snakes collected. This species, which is considered as very rare in West Africa, appears common in this area of Guinea. The current difficulties for the treatment of snakebite due to the high increase of the cost of antivenom therapy are discussed.

Etude epidemiologique des serpents venimeux et prise en charge des envenimations a Kindia (Guinee)

De juin a decembre 2004 une collecte de serpents a ete organisee dans huit localites des environs de Kindia; une region de Guinee Conakry ou l'incidence des morsures de serpents et des deces qu'elles occasionnent sont parmi les plus elevees signalees dans le monde. Un total de 916 specimens a ete recolte; dont 90 Elapides (9;8) et 174Viperides (19;0). Le Mamba noir Dendroaspis polylepis etait represente par huit specimens; soit pres de 1de l'ensemble des serpents collectes. Cette espece consideree comme tres rare en Afrique de l'Ouest apparait comme frequente dans cette region de Guinee. Les difficultes actuelles de prise en charge des victimes de morsure de serpents provoquees par la forte augmentation du cout du traitement antivenimeux sont discutees

[Mortality from snake bites, wild and domestic animal bites and arthropod stings in the savannah zone of eastern Senegal]. / La mortalité par les morsures de serpent, d'animaux sauvages et domestiques et les piqûres d'arthropodes en zone de savane soudanienne du Sénégal oriental.

From 1976 to 1999, we conducted a prospective study of overall and cause-specific mortality among the population of 42 villages of south-eastern Senegal. Of 4,228 deaths registered during this period, 26 were brought on by snakebites, 4 by invertebrate stings and 8 by other wild or domestic animals. The average annual mortality rate from snakebite was 14 deaths per 100,000 population. Among persons aged 1 year or more, 0.9% (26/2,880) of deaths were caused by snakebite and this cause represented 28% (26/94) of the total number of deaths by accident. We also investigated the snake fauna of the area. Of 1,280 snakes belonging to 34 species that were collected, one-third were dangerous and the proportion of Viperidae, Elapidae and Atractaspididae was 23%, 11% and 0.6%, respectively. The saw-scaled viper Echis ocellatus was the most abundant species (13.6%). Other venomous species were Causus maculatus (6.5%), Naja katiensis (5.5%), Bitis arietans (2.7%), Elapsoidea trapei (2.4%), Naja nigricollis (1.2%), Naja melanoleuca (1.1%), Atractaspis aterrima (0.4%), Dendroaspis polylepis (0.3%) and Naja haje (0.1%).

[The snakes of Senegal: an annotated species list]. / Les serpents du Sénégal: liste commentée des espèces.

Between 1990 and 2001, the laboratory of Paludologie of IRD at Dakar collected over 5,500 snakes from all over Senegal. By studying this collection, an entirely new species was discovered for science and eight new species for Senegal. The presence of many specimens of rare species and the great number of localities from which snakes were collected also allowed us to solve several delicate taxonomic problems and better to specify the biogeography of Senegalese snakes. Currently, the presence in Senegal of at least 55 different species has been established with certainty. The data collected simultaneously on the burden of snakebites for public health shows considerable differences according to geographic area, with populations from south-eastern Senegal being more exposed to the risk of death by snakebite.

High mortality from snakebite in south-eastern Senegal.

Over 24 years, from 1976 to 1999, we conducted a prospective study of overall and cause-specific mortality among the population of 42 villages of south-eastern Senegal. Of 4228 deaths registered during this period, 26 were caused by snakebite, 4 by invertebrate stings and 8 by other wild or domestic animals. The average annual mortality rate from snakebite was 14 deaths per 100,000 population. Among persons aged > or = 1 year, 0.9% (26/2880) of deaths were caused by snakebite and this cause represented 28% (26/94) of total deaths by accidents. We also investigated the snake fauna of the area. Of 1280 snakes belonging to 34 species that were collected, one-third were dangerous and the proportion of Viperidae, Elapidae and Atractaspidae was 23%, 11% and 0.6%, respectively. The saw-scaled viper Echis ocellatus was the most abundant species (13.6%). Other venomous species were Causus maculatus (6.5%), Naja katiensis (5.5%), Bitis arietans (2.7%), Elapsoidea trapei (2.4%), Naja nigricollis (1.2%), Naja melanoleuca (1.1%), Atractaspis aterrima (0.4%), Dendroaspis polylepis (0.3%) and Naja haje (0.1%).