Snakebite envenomation is considered a public health problem in Latin America, with an estimated 70,000 cases annually, but due to underreporting, these numbers may be even higher. [1]
Snakebite envenomation is considered a public health problem in Latin America, with an estimated 70,000 cases annually, but due to underreporting, these numbers may be even higher. [1]
People most affected are those who live in poor agricultural areas, most often with men and young people, although accidents occur with all ages, with most bites occurring on the feet and hands. Most accidents happen during rainy periods, when agricultural activities are started. Indigenous communities are also vulnerable due to difficult access to health centers. In Central America, Panama records the highest number of annual bites, around 2,000. In South America it is Brazil, registering 26,000 to 29,000, second to Venezuela with 7,000, and Colombia with 4,000. Brazil and Costa Rica apparently have higher lethality rates, 0.42% and 0.5% respectively. [1]
Most accidents are caused by snakes of the family Viperidae (Bothrops and Crotalus mainly) with 138 species of viperidae in Latin America. In Brazil, 70-90% of accidents are caused by Bothrops species. The most important are Bothrops asper known as the Fer-de-Lance or Terciopelo, found in Mexico, Central America and north South America, Bothrops atrox or Common lancehead endemic to the Amazon, and Bothrops jararaca found in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Other important species in South America include B. alternatus, B. moojeni, B. neuwied and B. jararacussu. In Brazil, the mortality rate reported by Bothrops is 0.39%, while that of rattlesnakes is 0.98%, Few accidents are caused by Bushmasters (Lachesis), but the mortality rate is high.
Few accidents are caused by elapids (with 78 species) in Latin America, which are represented by coral snakes, of the genera Leptomicrurus (Amazonia) Micruroides (Mexico), Micrurus which is the most widely distributed, and sea snakes, with one species, the Yellow-bellied sea snake, found in Mexico, Central America and north South America. Coral snakes represent only 1-2% of elapid accidents in the region, with M. nigrocinctus, M. mipartitus, M. lemniscatus, M. frontalis, M. corallinus and M. spixii being the main ones, while bites by Hydrophis platurus are extremely rare. [1]
Bothrops venom is composed of coagulating, anticoagulant, hemorrhagic, hemotoxic and cytotoxic agents. [2] It also contains myotoxins. The South American rattlesnake ( Crotalus durissus ) has neurotoxins, myotoxins and coagulants. [3] While that of Bushmaster, has proteolytic, coagulant, hemorrhagic and neurotoxic activity. [4] Coral snake venom is a potent neurotoxin, causing the neuromuscular block. [5] The yellow-bellied sea snake is extremely venomous, the venom of which contains neurotoxins and myotoxins. [6]
Bothrops venom is mainly composed of proteolytic, coagulant, and hemorrhagic activity, causing several symptoms, such as pain, swelling, severe bruising, blisters, and local bleeding (hemorrhage), in severe cases, tissue death can lead to amputation. Systemic effects include severe bleeding, absence of urine production, nausea, vomiting, and low blood pressure, which may lead to shock. Complications such as kidney failure, sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and bleeding in the brain are the main causes of death
The venom of the South American rattlesnake has three activities, neurotoxic, myotoxic, and low coagulant activity, neurotoxic symptoms are characterized by ptosis, flaccidity of the facial muscles, diplopia, ophthalmoplegia, in rare cases velopalatine paralysis occurs, the myotoxic action is responsible for causing generalized rhabdomyolysis, with muscle pain and myoglobinuria, the coagulant action results in blood being unable to coagulate, and slight gingival bleeding, other manifestations influence malaise, tiredness, sweat, vomiting, nausea, feeling of dry mouth and sleepy aspect. The main complications include acute tubular necrosis with kidney failure and respiratory paralysis.
Lachesis's bite is rare but serious, due to the high amounts it injects, the manifestations are similar to Bothrops, at the site of the bite there is pain and edema, hemorrhagic bubbles, vesicles, and necrosis. Systemic effects include visual disturbances, dizziness, low blood pressure and heart rate, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In the location of the bite, in severe cases, compartment syndrome, necrosis, secondary infection, obsessions, and functional deficit may occur.
Symptoms of coral bites can appear in less than an hour or more, at the site the symptoms are mild, with mild pain and paresthesia, systemic manifestations include progressive loss of muscle strength, vomiting, ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, and myasthenic facies. Generalized muscle pain may occur, velopalatine paralysis, which results in difficulty in swallowing, and in more severe cases, flaccid paralysis of the respiratory muscles, resulting in severe respiratory failure, with death occurring quickly. [7]
The venom of Hydrophis platurus causes damage to skeletal muscle, resulting in myoglobinuria, neuromuscular paralysis, and kidney damage. [8]
Other genera of medical importance include Bothriechis (palm vipers), which are of arboreal habits, and found in Mexico, Central America and northern South America.It has a venom of hemotoxic activity, causing local damage, such as severe pain, blisters, bruises and even gangrene. [9] B. schlegelii is the most widespread and venomous of Bothriechis genus, with hypotensive, procoagulant, necrotoxic, myotoxic and hemorrhagic activity, symptoms include local pain, swelling, ecchymosis, local bleeding and blisters, severe cases including blood incoagulobility, systemic hemorrhage (including bleeding in the brain), necrosis, compartment syndrome, pressure drop, shock, loss of coagulation factors (disseminated intravascular coagulation), renal failure and multiple organ dysfunction. [10] The genus agkistrodon, found in Latin America from Mexico to northwestern Costa Rica. [11] Agkistrodon bilineatus, is one of the main causes of bites in its geographic reach, the reported symptoms of the bite include severe pain, local bleeding, edema, nasal and gingival bleeding, petechiae, hematuria, shock, renal failure and necrosis. [12]
The use of leather shoes, boots and gloves can help to reduce accidents. [7]
Lachesis is a genus of venomous pit vipers in the family Viperidae. Member species are found in forested areas of the Neotropics. The generic name refers to one of the Three Fates, Lachesis, who determined the length of the thread of life. Four species are currently recognized as being valid.
Haemotoxins, hemotoxins or hematotoxins are toxins that destroy red blood cells, disrupt blood clotting, and/or cause organ degeneration and generalized tissue damage. The term haemotoxin is to some degree a misnomer since toxins that damage the blood also damage other tissues. Injury from a haemotoxic agent is often very painful and can cause permanent damage and in severe cases death. Loss of an affected limb is possible even with prompt treatment.
A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from the bite may occur. This may result in redness, swelling, and severe pain at the area, which may take up to an hour to appear. Vomiting, blurred vision, tingling of the limbs, and sweating may result. Most bites are on the hands, arms, or legs. Fear following a bite is common with symptoms of a racing heart and feeling faint. The venom may cause bleeding, kidney failure, a severe allergic reaction, tissue death around the bite, or breathing problems. Bites may result in the loss of a limb or other chronic problems or even death.
Snake venom is a highly toxic saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates in the immobilization and digestion of prey. This also provides defense against threats. Snake venom is usually injected by unique fangs during a bite, though some species are also able to spit venom.
Bothrops is a genus of highly venomous pit vipers endemic to the Neotropics. The generic name, Bothrops, is derived from the Greek words βόθρος, bothros, meaning 'pit', and ὄψ, ops, meaning 'eye' or 'face', together an allusion to the heat-sensitive loreal pit organs. Members of this genus are responsible for more human deaths in the Americas than any other group of venomous snakes. Currently, 48 species are recognized.
The inland taipan, also commonly known as the western taipan, small-scaled snake, or fierce snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to semiarid regions of central east Australia. Aboriginal Australians living in those regions named the snake dandarabilla. It was formally described by Frederick McCoy in 1879 and then by William John Macleay in 1882, but for the next 90 years, it was a mystery to the scientific community; no further specimens were found, and virtually nothing was added to the knowledge of this species until its rediscovery in 1972.
Gastão Rosenfeld, was a Brazilian physician and biomedical scientist, one of the co-discoverers of bradykinin, together with Maurício Rocha e Silva and Wilson Teixeira Beraldo, in 1949.
Lachesis muta, also known as the Southern American bushmaster or Atlantic bushmaster, is a venomous pit viper species found in South America, as well as the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
The Indian cobra, also known commonly as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, or binocellate cobra, is a species of cobra, a venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to the Indian subcontinent, and is a member of the "big four" species that are responsible for the most snakebite cases in India.
Bothrops leucurus, commonly known as the whitetail lancehead or the Bahia lancehead, is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Brazil. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid. A female owned by YouTuber Venom Central is over six feet long.
Myotoxins are small, basic peptides found in snake venoms and lizard venoms. This involves a non-enzymatic mechanism that leads to severe muscle necrosis. These peptides act very quickly, causing instantaneous paralysis to prevent prey from escaping and eventually death due to diaphragmatic paralysis.
Crotalus durissus, known as the South American rattlesnake, tropical rattlesnake, and by other names, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in South America. It is the most widely distributed member of its genus. Currently, seven subspecies are recognized.
Crotalus simus is a venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Central America. The specific epithet is Latin for "flat-nosed", likely because its head is blunt compared with lanceheads (Bothrops). Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.
Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster was formerly a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the central region of the United States. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognize the Osage copperhead as a valid taxon.
Bungarotoxins are toxins found in the venom of snakes and kraits. Bites from these animals can result in severe symptoms including bleeding or hemorrhage, paralysis and tissue damage that can result in amputation. The paralytic effects of venom are particularly dangerous as they can impair breathing. These symptoms are the result of bungarotoxin presence in the venom. In actuality, venom contains several distinct bungarotoxins, each varying in which receptors they act on and how powerful they are.
Bothrops jararacussu, commonly known in English as the jararacussu, is a highly venomous pit viper species endemic to South America. It is one of the most dreaded snakes in South America and can grow up to 2.2 metres (7.2 ft).
Bothrops moojeni, commonly known in English as the Brazilian lancehead, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. It is a pit viper endemic to South America.
Philodryas olfersii is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.
List of reported attacks and species involved in Latin America.
