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Bucaretchi F, Trindade da Silva Y, Mitsunaga TM, De Capitani EM, Jorge da Silva N, Hyslop S. Snakebites by venomous snakes in Brazilian serpentaria and zoos over a 10-year period (2012-2021). Toxicon 2024; 249:108082. [PMID: 39209220 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Despite the wide range of institutions that maintain venomous snakes in captivity in Brazil there are no comprehensive data on the occurrence of snakebites and envenomations in these places. We examined the range of native and exotic species of venomous snakes kept by Brazilian zoos and serpentaria (scientific and commercial) and assessed the frequency of snakebites in workers handling these snakes during a 10-year period (2012-2021). Twenty-two (73.3%) of 30 institutions returned a standard questionnaire, including 15 serpentaria and 7 zoos that together kept 10,607 venomous snakes in 2022/2023. Commercial and scientific serpentaria had many more snakes (n = 10,550, consisting of 10,499 native specimens and 51 exotic specimens) than zoos (n = 57 native specimens), with two genera accounting for the majority of native species (Bothrops spp. = 84.5% and Crotalus durissus ssp. = 13.5%). Thirty-seven snakebites were reported and involved primarily the hands (33), seven of which occurred during venom extraction and 30 in other circumstances, most of them while handling/manipulating the cages or snake boxes (10) and restraining (9) or feeding (5) the snake. In addition, there were two cases of venom accidently sprayed on the face, including the eyes. Most bites were caused by Bothrops spp. (31), followed by C. durissus ssp. (4), Lachesis muta (1) and Micrurus corallinus (1). Thirty-three bites (89.2%) were treated with antivenom, with four bites to the fingers by Bothrops spp. resulting in local functional sequelae. There were 366,918 venom extractions with a ratio of 1.9 bites/100,000 extractions; no bites were recorded in the six institutions that sedated the snakes prior to venom extraction, which accounted for 22.7% of all extractions. These findings show that although snakebites are rare in Brazilian zoos and serpentaria, severe envenomation may occur. The occurrence of snakebites could be reduced by measures such as sedation of the snakes before venom extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio Bucaretchi
- Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Campinas (CIATox-Campinas), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil.
| | - Yasmin Trindade da Silva
- Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Campinas (CIATox-Campinas), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil
| | - Thalita Mendes Mitsunaga
- Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Campinas (CIATox-Campinas), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Mello De Capitani
- Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Campinas (CIATox-Campinas), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil
| | - Nelson Jorge da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Saúde, Escola de Ciências Médicas e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás (PUC-GO), Rua 232, 128, 74605-140, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Stephen Hyslop
- Centro de Informação e Assistência Toxicológica de Campinas (CIATox-Campinas), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil; Departamento de Medicina Translacional (Área de Farmacologia), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Rua Vital Brazil 80, Campinas, 13083-888, SP, Brazil
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Foss KD, Keller KA, Kehoe SP, Sutton BP. Establishing an MRI-Based Protocol and Atlas of the Bearded Dragon ( Pogona vitticeps) Brain. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:886333. [PMID: 35647093 PMCID: PMC9136876 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.886333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) has become a popular companion lizard, and as such, clients have increasingly come to expect the application of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options in their care. The purpose of this study was to establish an MRI-based protocol and brain atlas to improve diagnostic capabilities in bearded dragons presenting with neurologic dysfunction. Using a high-field 3T magnet, in vivo MRI of the brain was successfully performed in seven healthy bearded dragons utilizing an injectable anesthetic protocol utilizing intravenous alfaxalone. From this, we created an atlas of the brain in three planes, identifying nine regions of interest. A total scan time of 35 min allowed for the collection of a quality diagnostic scan and all lizards recovered without complication. This study provides practitioners a neuroanatomic reference when performing brain MRI on the bearded dragon along with a concise and rapid MRI protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari D. Foss
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Krista A. Keller
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Spencer P. Kehoe
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Bradley P. Sutton
- Department of Bioengineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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