12 June, 2015

Medical important scorpions in Western Brazilian Amazon


It is well known that scorpions are a major public health problem in many regions of Brazil, but inside Brazil this problem have partly been neglected. But with with an increasing number of sting registrations every year in the country and 78,091 cases reported in 2013, it is important with quality research identifying dangerous species and risk factors.

Amanda M. Queiroz and co-workers have now published a case-controlled study analysis the severity of scorpion stings in Western Brazilian Amazon. Dangerous species are Tityus obscurus (Gervais, 1843), T. metuendus Pocock, 1897 and T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (family Buthidae). Six deaths were registered and the main conclusion of the study is that scorpion stings showed a extensive distribution in the Western Brazilian Amazon and represent a potential occupational health problem for rural populations in this region.

Abstract:


Reference:
Queiroz AM, Sampaio VS, Mendonca I, Fe NF, Sachett J, Ferreira LC, et al. Severity of Scorpion Stings in the Western Brazilian Amazon: A Case-Control Study. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0128819. [Open Access]

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