DOCSLIB.ORG

Epilepsy Due to a Destructive Brain Lesion Caused by a Scorpion Sting

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Epilepsy Due to a Destructive Brain Lesion Caused by a Scorpion Sting OBSERVATION Epilepsy Due to a Destructive Brain Lesion Caused by a Scorpion Sting Leonardo Bonilha, MD, PhD; Fernando Cendes, MD, PhD; Enrico Ghizoni, MD; Ronan José Vieira, MD, PhD; Li Min Li, MD, PhD Background: Symptomatic acute epileptic seizures may Approximately 24 hours after the sting, she began to occur in up to 5% of individuals, especially children, with convulse. She was then taken to a hospital where she scorpion stings. The occurrence of a long-lasting brain achieved suboptimal seizure control, with daily tonic- lesion or the development of epilepsy after a scorpion sting clonic seizures and left hemiplegia during the follow- has never been observed. ing week. During our clinical investigation, her rou- tine electroencephalogram showed the presence of Objective: To describe the development of epilepsy sec- interictal spikes and diffuse slowing in the right brain ondary to an extensive hemispheric destructive brain le- hemisphere. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a sion after a scorpion sting. widespread destructive lesion of her right cerebral hemisphere affecting both the cortical and subcortical Patient: A 15-year-old with a moderate global cogni- structures. tive impairment and a mild left hemiparesis, with sei- zures occurring approximately once monthly. Conclusion: This is a rare illustration of the biological effects of the toxin of T serrulatus concerning its excito- Results: The mother reported that the patient at the toxicity and the potential to induce a brain lesion of an age of 4 years was stung by a brown scorpion, Tityus epileptogenic nature. serrulatus. The patient soon developed local pain and paresthesias followed by diaphoresis and somnolence. Arch Neurol. 2004;61:1294-1296 CORPION STINGS ARE A FRE- We report a case of a child who devel- quent cause of emergency oped epilepsy because of a destructive medical consultations in brain lesion after a sting by T serrulatus. tropical countries.1 The We review the biological effects of the scor- symptoms presented by pa- pion toxin and discuss the neurotoxicity Stients with scorpion stings are usually re- of the venom in the setting of the devel- lated to the neurotoxic effects of scor- opment of a brain lesion and recurrent pion venom.2 Scorpion stings are rarely nonprovoked seizures. fatal, but cardiopulmonary fatalities have been reported, especially when the pa- tients are children. REPORT OF A CASE Tityus serrulatus is a brown-colored scorpion encountered in the northwest- A healthy 4-year-old child, living in the ern region of Brazil. It has a unique mor- state of Bahia in the northwestern phological feature, a saw-toothed forma- region of Brazil, was stung in her left tion in the third bead of its tail. This makes middle finger by a brown scorpion. Her possible the straightforward visual iden- mother witnessed the event and later tification of the species. The usual effects described the features of T serrulatus. of T serrulatus stings are local pain and The child soon developed local pain and Author Affiliations: mild somatic sensation features, such as paresthesias followed by diaphoresis Neuroimaging Laboratory, paresthesias and numbness. However, the and somnolence. Approximately 24 Department of Neurology (Drs Bonilha, Cendes, Ghizoni, worst effects of the T serrulatus toxins com- hours after the sting, she began to con- and Li) and Department of prise somnolence, tremors, confusion, and vulse. She was then taken to a hospital Emergency Medicine arrhythmia. Acute symptomatic seizures where she achieved suboptimal seizure (Dr Vieira), State University of have been reported to occur in up to 5% control, with daily tonic-clonic seizures Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. of all cases.1 during the following week. During this (REPRINTED) ARCH NEUROL / VOL 61, AUG 2004 WWW.ARCHNEUROL.COM 1294 ©2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Downloaded From: https://jamanetwork.com/ on 09/26/2021 A B C Figure. A, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the axial plane showing diffuse right cortical and subcortical destruction. B, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the coronal plane showing a cortical and subcortical atrophy of the right frontal and temporal lobes. C, Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence magnetic resonance imaging of the axial plane showing ex vacuo lateral ventricle enlargement and widespread increased signal intensity in the subcortical portion of the right hemisphere, indicating gliosis. period, and between the seizures, she stayed alert and slows down or blocks the channel inactivation and sta- conscious, with left hemiplegia. When the seizures bilizes the channel in its open state.3 Conversely, the began to abate, 1 week after the sting, she was dis- ␤-neurotoxin binds to site 4 of the sodium channel and charged home. She continued to have almost daily does not change the channel inactivation, but it shifts the tonic-clonic seizures for 2 years after the hospitaliza- channel voltage dependence in the positive direction.7 tion, despite antiepileptic drugs. The toxin purified from the South American scor- She is now 15 years old, and her mother states that pion T serrulatus shifts the voltage-dependent activa- after the accident the patient had learning difficulties and tion of the sodium channel, leading to repetitive firing. was not able to attend elementary school. She currently Actually, the so-called Tityus toxin is a mixture of a mi- has a moderate global cognitive impairment and a mild nor fraction and a major fraction named ␥-toxin. The left hemiparesis, and her seizures occur approximately ␥-toxin binds close to binding site 4 of the Na+ channel once monthly. and blocks the channel. The same effect of delay of in- She underwent neurophysiologic and image investi- activation of the Na+ channel is produced by the major gation. Routine electroencephalogram showed the pres- component of the toxin. There are additional effects of ence of interictal spikes and diffuse slowing in the right the Tityus venom concerning blockage of delayed recti- brain hemisphere. Magnetic resonance imaging showed fier K+ channel, binding to the Ca+2–activated K+ chan- a widespread destructive lesion of her right cerebral hemi- nel of high conductance, and binding of small conduc- sphere affecting both the cortical and subcortical struc- tance Ca+2 channels.8 The biological effect of these actions, tures (Figure). however, is yet to be clarified. The clinical effects of scorpion venom intoxication COMMENT consist of local reactions such as pain, edema, pares- thesia, numbness, and somnolence. These reactions Scorpion venom is formed by mucopolysaccharides, hy- are considered to be a consequence of neurotransmit- aluronidase, phospholipase, serotonin, histamine, and pro- ter release. The systemic symptomatology is mainly tease inhibitors. The clinical manifestations of scorpion due to the catecholaminergic release, leading to tachy- venom intoxication exclusively result from the action of cardia, increased blood pressure, restlessness, muscle ␣- and ␤-toxins.3 The ␣-toxin is present in the venom of cramps, and fasciculation. Serious and fatal cases, Androctonus australis Hector, Androctonus mauretanicu especially involving children, are the consequence of mauretanicus, Buthus eupeus, Buthus occitanus tunetanus, secondary complications such as shock and pulmo- Leiurus quinquestriatus, and T serrulatus, whereas the nary edema, convulsions, brain edema, muscular ␤-toxin can be found in the venom of Centruroides sculp- paralysis, and respiratory failure.9 turatus, Centruroides suffusus suffusus, and T serrulatus.4 The present case may be a rare illustration of a brain Both ␣- and ␤-toxins are 7-kDa molecular weight poly- lesion induced by the excitotoxic effects of the scorpion peptides of 64 amino acids and 4 intramolecular disul- toxin. The persistent hyperactivation state generated by fide bridges.5 the scorpion toxin is possibly the cause of the wide- The scorpion toxins exert their in vivo effects by the spread functional and structural lesion with ischemic fea- disturbance of ion transportation through the neuronal tures. Interestingly, the lateralization of the seizures, and cell membranes both presynaptic and postsynaptic.6 The the right hemispheric brain destruction, followed a simi- ␣-neurotoxin binds to site 3 of the sodium channel and lar pattern of patients with HHE syndrome (hemicon- (REPRINTED) ARCH NEUROL / VOL 61, AUG 2004 WWW.ARCHNEUROL.COM 1295 ©2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Downloaded From: https://jamanetwork.com/ on 09/26/2021 vulsion, hemiplegia, and epilepsy).10 Rasmussen syn- istrative, technical, and material support: Cendes, Vieira, drome is a possible differential diagnosis; however, we and Li. Study supervision: Ghizoni, Vieira, and Li. have not witnessed continuous epileptic activity in the Acknowledgment: We thank the patient for her kind co- patient’s electrophysiological studies or evidence of pro- operation. gression in her disease. The recurrent nonprovoked seizures in this patient sug- REFERENCES gest the development of a stable epileptogenic region in the area that was continuously activated by the scor- 1. Freire-Maia L, Campos JA, Amaral CF. Approaches to the treatment of scorpion pion toxin. Our case report suggests biological effects of envenoming. Toxicon. 1994;32:1009-1014. the toxin of T serrulatus concerning its excitotoxicity and 2. Arantes EC, Sampaio SV, Vieira CA, Giglio JR. What is tityustoxin? Toxicon. 1992; the potential to induce a brain lesion of
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Synopsis of the Amber Scorpions, with Special Reference to the Baltic Fauna 131-136 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; Download Unter
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Denisia Jahr/Year: 2009 Band/Volume: 0026 Autor(en)/Author(s): Lourenco Wilson R. Artikel/Article: A synopsis of the amber scorpions, with special reference to the Baltic fauna 131-136 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at A synopsis of the amber scorpions, with special reference to the Baltic fauna W ilson R. L OURENÇO Abstract: A synopsis of the fossil scorpions found in amber, from the Lower Cretaceous to the Miocene, is presented. Scorpion remains are rare among the arthropods found trapped in amber. Only five specimens are known from Cretaceous amber, repre- senting four different taxa, whereas eleven specimens have been recorded from Baltic amber, representing nine genera and ten species. A few, much younger, fossils have also been described from Dominican and Mexican ambers. Key words: Cretaceous, Paleocene, Miocene, Scorpiones. Santrauka: Straipsnyje pateikiama gintaruose rastu˛ fosiliniu˛ skorpionu˛ nuo apatines. kreidos iki mioceno apžvalga. Iš visu˛ nariuo- takoju˛ gintaruose skorpionu˛ randama reˇciausiai. Tik penki egzemplioriai yra žinomi iš kreidos gintaro. Jie priklauso keturiems skir- tingiems taksonams. O iš Baltijos gintaro yra aprašyta vienuolika egzemplioriu˛, priklausanˇciu˛ devynioms gentims ir dešimˇciai ru–šiu˛. Keletas daug jaunesniu˛ fosiliniu˛ skorpionu˛ taip pat buvo rasta Dominikos ir Meksikos gintaruose. Raktiniai žodžiai: Kreida, paleocenas, miocenas, retas. Introduction Baltic amber was the first to provide fossil scorpi- ons, at the beginning of the 19th century. Several new Scorpions are rare among the fossil arthropods discoveries have been the subject of studies since 1996 found in amber, although in recent years several speci- (LOURENÇO & WEITSCHAT 1996, 2000, 2001, 2005; mens have been described from Dominican and Mexi- LOURENÇO 2004; LOURENÇO et al.
    [Show full text]
  • And Its Junior Synonym Tityus Antillanus (Thorell, 1877)
    Francke, O. F. and J. A. Santiago-Blay. 1984. Redescription of 7Ityus crassimanus CrhomU,1877), and its junior synonymTityus antillanus (Thorell, 1877) (Scorpiones, Buthidae). J. Arachnol., 12:283-290. REDESCRIPTION OF TITYUS CRASSIMANUS (THORELL, 1877), AND ITS JUNIOR SYNONYMTITYUS ANTILLANUS (THORELL, 1877) (SCORPIONES, BUTHIDAE) Oscar F. Francke Departmentof BiologicalSciences TexasTech University Lubbock, Texas 79409 and Jorge1 A. Santiago-Blay Museode Biologia, Departmentode Biologia Univetsidadde Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico 00931 ABSTRACT Tityus crassimanus(Thomll, 1877), originally described from one adult female from "Mexico," redescribed and its geographic distribution is revised to the Caribbeanisland of Hispaniola. Tityus antilla~us (Thorell, 1877), originally described from two juveniles from the "Antilles," is a junior synonymof T. crassimanus. Tityus crassin~nus appears to be most closely related to Tityus michelii Armas,from Puerto Rico. Htyus obtusus (Karsch, 1879), from Puerto Rico, has been confused with, and erroneously suspected of be/rig a junior synonymof T. crasgmaT:us. INTRODUCTION Thoreil (1877) describedsix species in the genusIsometrus Hemprich and Ehrenberg, four of them from the NewWorld. Isometrus fuscus Thorell, 1877, from Argentina was subsequentlydesignated the type species of the genusZabius Thorell, 1894. Isometrus stigmurusThorell, 1877, fromBrasil wastransferred to Tit)~s C. L. Karsch,where it is still considereda valid species (Louren~o1981). Isometruscrassimanus Thorell, 1877, fromMexico was also transferred to ~’tyus, whereit has remainedenigmatic (Hoffmann 1932) primarily because the genus ~tyus is otherwise unknownnorth of Costa Rica in either Central or North America(Pocock 1902, Lourenfoand Franckein press). Last, Isometrusantillanus Thorell, 1877, from "America(India Occidentalis)... (’ex Antil- lis’)," wasalso transferred to ~tyus, whereits identity and taxonomicstatus have been ’Present address: Deparlmentof Entomology,University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Brazilian Scorpion Venoms on the Central Nervous System
    Nencioni et al. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases (2018) 24:3 DOI 10.1186/s40409-018-0139-x REVIEW Open Access Effects of Brazilian scorpion venoms on the central nervous system Ana Leonor Abrahão Nencioni1* , Emidio Beraldo Neto1,2, Lucas Alves de Freitas1,2 and Valquiria Abrão Coronado Dorce1 Abstract In Brazil, the scorpion species responsible for most severe incidents belong to the Tityus genus and, among this group, T. serrulatus, T. bahiensis, T. stigmurus and T. obscurus are the most dangerous ones. Other species such as T. metuendus, T. silvestres, T. brazilae, T. confluens, T. costatus, T. fasciolatus and T. neglectus are also found in the country, but the incidence and severity of accidents caused by them are lower. The main effects caused by scorpion venoms – such as myocardial damage, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema and shock – are mainly due to the release of mediators from the autonomic nervous system. On the other hand, some evidence show the participation of the central nervous system and inflammatory response in the process. The participation of the central nervous system in envenoming has always been questioned. Some authors claim that the central effects would be a consequence of peripheral stimulation and would be the result, not the cause, of the envenoming process. Because, they say, at least in adult individuals, the venom would be unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. In contrast, there is some evidence showing the direct participation of the central nervous system in the envenoming process. This review summarizes the major findings on the effects of Brazilian scorpion venoms on the central nervous system, both clinically and experimentally.
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook
    USAMRIID’s MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF BIOLOGICAL CASUALTIES HANDBOOK Sixth Edition April 2005 U.S. ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES FORT DETRICK FREDERICK, MARYLAND Emergency Response Numbers National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 or (for chem/bio hazards & terrorist events) 1-202-267-2675 National Domestic Preparedness Office: 1-202-324-9025 (for civilian use) Domestic Preparedness Chem/Bio Helpline: 1-410-436-4484 or (Edgewood Ops Center – for military use) DSN 584-4484 USAMRIID’s Emergency Response Line: 1-888-872-7443 CDC'S Emergency Response Line: 1-770-488-7100 Handbook Download Site An Adobe Acrobat Reader (pdf file) version of this handbook can be downloaded from the internet at the following url: http://www.usamriid.army.mil USAMRIID’s MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF BIOLOGICAL CASUALTIES HANDBOOK Sixth Edition April 2005 Lead Editor Lt Col Jon B. Woods, MC, USAF Contributing Editors CAPT Robert G. Darling, MC, USN LTC Zygmunt F. Dembek, MS, USAR Lt Col Bridget K. Carr, MSC, USAF COL Ted J. Cieslak, MC, USA LCDR James V. Lawler, MC, USN MAJ Anthony C. Littrell, MC, USA LTC Mark G. Kortepeter, MC, USA LTC Nelson W. Rebert, MS, USA LTC Scott A. Stanek, MC, USA COL James W. Martin, MC, USA Comments and suggestions are appreciated and should be addressed to: Operational Medicine Department Attn: MCMR-UIM-O U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5011 PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION The Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook, which has become affectionately known as the "Blue Book," has been enormously successful - far beyond our expectations.
    [Show full text]
  • Tityus Asthenes (Pocock, 1893)
    Tityus asthenes (Pocock, 1893) by Michiel Cozijn Fig. 1:T.asthenes adult couple from Peru, top: ♀, down: ♂ M.A.C.Cozijn © 2008 What’s in a name? Tityus asthenes has no generally accepted common name, but they are sometimes sold under names like “Peruvian black scorpion” or as other species like Tityus metuendus (Pocock, 1897). Etymology: The name ‘asthenes’ in apposition to the generic name (Tityus) literally means weak or sick in ancient Greek, but it refers to ‘a thin or slender habitus’ in this case. M.A.C.Cozijn © 2011 All text and images. E-mail :[email protected] 1 Fig.2: part of South and Central America (modified) © Google maps 2011 Distribution Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru (1). Natural habitat T.asthenes is a common element of the tropical forests of Eastern Amazonia. T.asthenes can be found on tree trunks, but also on the forest floor under fallen logs and other debris, aswell as in the rootsystems of large trees. They are more common in rural areas. In Costa Rica the species is considered rare (Viquez, 1999). Most of the specimens in the hobby circuit originate from Peru, leading me to believe it is rather common in that country. Venom The LD50 value of the venom is 6.1 mg/ kg, and this value seems rather high when compared to T.serrulatus Lutz & Mello 1922 (0.43 Zlotkin et al, 1978) or T.bahiensis Perty 1833 (1.38, Hassan 1984). A study in Colombia revealed that systemic effects occurred mostly in children. Eighty patients where studied, of which fourteen sought medical help in a hospital.
    [Show full text]
  • Segundo Hallazgo De Tityus Bahiensis En Venezuela Y
    Received: July 30, 2007 J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis. Accepted: January 28, 2008 V.14, n.1, p.170-177, 2008. Abstract published online: January 31, 2008 Short communication. Full paper published online: March 8, 2008 ISSN 1678-9199. SECOND RECORD OF Tityus bahiensis (SCORPIONES, BUTHIDAE) FROM VENEZUELA: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS DE SOUSA L. (1), BORGES A. (2), MANZANILLA J. (3, 4), BIONDI I. (5), AVELLANEDA E. (1) (1) Center of Health Sciences Investigations, Anzoátegui Institute of Investigations and Development (INDESA), School of Medicine, University of Oriente, Puerto La Cruz, Anzoátegui, Venezuela; (2) Laboratory of Animal Toxins, Center for Biosciences and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Advanced Studies (IDEA), Institute of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela; (3) Museum of the Agricultural Zoology Institute (MIZA), Institute of Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agronomy, Central University of Venezuela, Aragua, Venezuela; (4) Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid, Spain; (5) Laboratory of Venomous Animals and Herpetology, Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Brazil. ABSTRACT: This work reports the second record of the scorpion Tityus bahiensis Perty from Venezuela. The specimen was found alive in a wardrobe at a hotel resort in Margarita Island, northeastern Venezuela. Morphological characterization allowed its assignment to the Tityus bahiensis population inhabiting the southernmost area of the species’ geographic range, e.g. the state of São Paulo in Brazil, northern Argentina and Paraguay. The fact that the only available Venezuelan antiscorpion (anti-Tityus discrepans) serum does not neutralize the effects of alpha- and beta- toxin from Tityus serrulatus venom (which resembles in composition that of T.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Dorsomedial Hypotalamus Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors In
    NeuroToxicology 47 (2015) 54–61 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect NeuroToxicology The role of dorsomedial hypotalamus ionotropic glutamate receptors in the hypertensive and tachycardic responses evoked by Tityustoxin intracerebroventricular injection a,b c,f, d F.C. Silva , Patrı´cia Alves Maia Guidine *, Natalia Lima Machado , e a,b f Carlos Henrique Xavier , R.C. de Menezes , Tasso Moraes-Santos , c,f a,b Ma´rcio Fla´vio Moraes , Deocle´cio Alves Chianca Jr. a Laborato´rio de Fisiologia Cardiovascular, Departamento de Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas, Instituto de Cieˆncias Exatas e Biolo´gicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400 000 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil b Programa de Po´s-graduac¸a˜o em Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas – NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Universita´rio, Morro do Cruzeiro, 35400 000 Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil c Nu´cleo de Neurocieˆncias, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofı´sica, Instituto de Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antoˆnio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, 31270 901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil d Laborato´rio de Hipertensa˜o, Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Instituto de Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antoˆnio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, 31270 901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil e Departamento de Cieˆncias Fisiolo´gicas, Instituto de Cieˆncias Biolo´gicas, Universidade Federal de Goia´s, Campus II – Samambaia, saı´da para Nero´polis – Km 13, Caixa Postal: 131, 74001 970 Goiaˆnia, Goia´s, Brazil f Centro de Tecnologia e Pesquisa em Magneto-Ressonaˆncia, Escola de Engenharia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antoˆnio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, 31270 901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: The scorpion envenoming syndrome is an important worldwide public health problem due to its high Received 28 September 2014 incidence and potential severity of symptoms.
    [Show full text]
  • Tityus Serrulatus Envenoming in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice: a Risk
    de Oliveira et al. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases (2016) 22:26 DOI 10.1186/s40409-016-0081-8 RESEARCH Open Access Tityus serrulatus envenoming in non-obese diabetic mice: a risk factor for severity Guilherme Honda de Oliveira1, Felipe Augusto Cerni1, Iara Aimê Cardoso1, Eliane Candiani Arantes1 and Manuela Berto Pucca1,2* Abstract Background: In Brazil, accidents with venomous animals are considered a public health problem. Tityus serrulatus (Ts), popularly known as the yellow scorpion, is most frequently responsible for the severe accidents in the country. Ts envenoming can cause several signs and symptoms classified according to their clinical manifestations as mild, moderate or severe. Furthermore, the victims usually present biochemical alterations, including hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, Ts envenoming and its induced hyperglycemia were never studied or documented in a patient with diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, this is the first study to evaluate the glycemia during Ts envenoming using a diabetic animal model (NOD, non-obese diabetic). Methods: Female mice (BALB/c or NOD) were challenged with a non-lethal dose of Ts venom. Blood glucose level was measured (tail blood using a glucose meter) over a 24-h period. The total glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured 30 days after Ts venom injection. Moreover, the insulin levels were analyzed at the glycemia peak. Results: The results demonstrated that the envenomed NOD animals presented a significant increase of glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin levels compared to the envenomed BALB/c control group, corroborating that DM victims present great risk of developing severe envenoming. Moreover, the envenomed NOD animals presented highest risk of death and sequelae.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scorpion Tityus Macrurus Koch, 1845, Was Described on the Basis of One Male an D One Female from Mexico
    Francke, O . F. and F . W. Wagner 1978 . The identity of Tityus macrurus Koch (Arachnida, Scorpionida, Buthidae) . J. Arachnol. 6 :159-160. RESEARCH NOTE THE IDENTITY OF TITYUS MA CR UR US KOCH (ARACHNIDA, SCORPIONIDA, BUTHIDAE ) The scorpion Tityus macrurus Koch, 1845, was described on the basis of one male an d one female from Mexico . At the time this species was described the genus Tityus Koch was poorly characterized, and Koch assigned numerous species to it . Since then, the genus Tityus has been restricted to species found only in South America and southern Centra l America, and T. macrurus has been assigned to the genus Centruroides Marx, foun d mostly in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands . The position of the species within this genus, however, has not been clear . While T:horell (1876) indicate d that T. macrurus is a junior synonym of Centrurus biaculeatus (Lucas) [=Centruroides gracilis (Latreille)] and Kraepelin (1899) listed the species as a synonym of C. gracilis, Pocock (1902), Hoffmann (1932), Moreno (1939), and Mello-Leit "o (1945) referred T macrurus to the synonymy of Centruroides margaritatus (Gervais) . Both C. gracilis and C. margaritatus occur in Mexico, and since the placement of T. macrurus within the genu s Centruroides is uncertain, we examined the male type of T. macrurus to determine its identity. The type of Tityus macrurus is definitely a species of the genus Centruroides and is very closely related to the species occurring in coastal Veracruz described and identified by Hoffmann (1932) as C. gracilis. However, as pointed out by one of us (Wagner, 1977), the name Centruroides gracilis is currently applied to a poorly understood complex of species and subspecies from a wide geographic area (Florida and Texas in the USA , Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and northern South America to Ecua- dor).
    [Show full text]
  • Confirmation of Parthenogenesis in the Medically Significant, Synanthropic Scorpion Tityus Stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthidae)
    NOTA BREVE: Confirmation of parthenogenesis in the medically significant, synanthropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Lucian K. Ross NOTA BREVE: Abstract: Parthenogenesis (asexuality) or reproduction of viable offspring without fertiliza- Confirmation of parthenogenesis tion by a male gamete is confirmed for the medically significant, synanthropic in the medically significant, synan- scorpion Tityus (Tityus) stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Buthidae), based on the litters thropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus of four virgin females (62.3–64.6 mm) reared in isolation in the laboratory since (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthi- birth. Mature females were capable of producing initial litters of 10–21 thely- dae) tokous offspring each; 93–117 days post-maturation. While Tityus stigmurus has been historically considered a parthenogenetic species in the pertinent literature, Lucian K. Ross the present contribution is the first to demonstrate and confirm thelytokous 6303 Tarnow parthenogenesis in this species. Detroit, Michigan 48210-1558 U.S.A. Keywords: Buthidae, Tityus stigmurus, parthenogenesis, reproduction, thelytoky. Phone/Fax: +1 (313) 285-9336 Mobile Phone: +1 (313) 898-1615 E-mail: [email protected] Confirmación de la partenogénesis en el escorpión sinantrópico y de relevan- cia médica Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Resumen: Se confirma la partenogénesis (asexualidad) o reproducción con progenie viable Revista Ibérica de Aracnología sin fertilización mediante gametos masculinos en el escorpión sinantrópico y de ISSN: 1576 - 9518. relevancia médica Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Cua- Dep. Legal: Z-2656-2000. tro hembras vírgenes (Mn 62.3-64.6) se criaron en el laboratorio desde su naci- Vol. 18 miento. Al alcanzar el estadio adulto tuvieron una descendencia telitoca inicial de Sección: Artículos y Notas.
    [Show full text]
  • Envenomings Caused by Venomous Animals in Roraima: a Neglected
    Souza WMP, et al., J Toxicol Cur Res 2019, 3: 011 DOI: 10.24966/TCR-3735/100011 HSOA Journal of Toxicology: Current Research Research Article and promote therapeutic measures, such as supplying of specific Envenomings Caused by antivenoms in places where they are most required. Venomous Animals in Roraima: Keywords: Amazon region; Epidemiological report; Envenoming; A Neglected Health Problem in Roraima; Venomous animals the Brazil’s Northernmost State Introduction Accidents caused by venomous animals are considered a global 1 1 Wállex Matias Pedroso Souza , Gabriel Alexandre Silva , public health problem due to high number of cases and the complexity Felipe Augusto Cerni2, Isadora Sousa de Oliveira2, Umberto of their clinical evolution [1]. Envenomings caused by these animals Zottich1, Bruna Kempfer Bassoli1 and Manuela Berto Pucca1* are classified as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), since they affect 1Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil almost exclusively low-income people, deprived of political power, 2Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and living in developing regions [2-4]. Snakebites leads the severity of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil of envenomings, being responsible for most of disabilities and pre- mature deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organiza- tion (WHO), it is estimated that 7,400 people every day are bitten by Abstract snakes, resulting in 2.7 million cases of snakebite envenomings in the continent and about 81,000 to 138,000 deaths each year [4]. Accidents caused by venomous animals are an important global neglected disease with high impact in Brazilian Amazon. The sub- In Brazil, despite the magnitude regarding the incidence of the stantial numbers of envenomings registered in the Amazon region venomous animals’ accidents, there is no uniformity of them through can be explained by the optimal conditions for the venomous fauna the regions [5].
    [Show full text]
  • Active Compounds Present in Scorpion and Spider Venoms and Tick Saliva Francielle A
    Cordeiro et al. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases (2015) 21:24 DOI 10.1186/s40409-015-0028-5 REVIEW Open Access Arachnids of medical importance in Brazil: main active compounds present in scorpion and spider venoms and tick saliva Francielle A. Cordeiro, Fernanda G. Amorim, Fernando A. P. Anjolette and Eliane C. Arantes* Abstract Arachnida is the largest class among the arthropods, constituting over 60,000 described species (spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, palpigrades, pseudoscorpions, solpugids and harvestmen). Many accidents are caused by arachnids, especially spiders and scorpions, while some diseases can be transmitted by mites and ticks. These animals are widely dispersed in urban centers due to the large availability of shelter and food, increasing the incidence of accidents. Several protein and non-protein compounds present in the venom and saliva of these animals are responsible for symptoms observed in envenoming, exhibiting neurotoxic, dermonecrotic and hemorrhagic activities. The phylogenomic analysis from the complementary DNA of single-copy nuclear protein-coding genes shows that these animals share some common protein families known as neurotoxins, defensins, hyaluronidase, antimicrobial peptides, phospholipases and proteinases. This indicates that the venoms from these animals may present components with functional and structural similarities. Therefore, we described in this review the main components present in spider and scorpion venom as well as in tick saliva, since they have similar components. These three arachnids are responsible for many accidents of medical relevance in Brazil. Additionally, this study shows potential biotechnological applications of some components with important biological activities, which may motivate the conducting of further research studies on their action mechanisms.
    [Show full text]