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Bisneto PF, Frazão L, Ceron K, Sachett J, Monteiro WM, Kaefer IL, Guedes TB. The challenge in detecting risk areas of snakebite when case rates are low: the case of Amazonian coral snakes. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20230565. [PMID: 38088733 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying risk areas for envenomation by animals is relevant for public health, such as strategic distribution of antivenoms. Coral snakes are highly diverse in the Amazon, inhabit natural and human-modified environments, and the outcome of the cases tends to be serious and potentially lethal due to their neurotoxic venom. By integrating species' geographical records and environmental variables, we used species distribution modeling to predict the distribution of coral snake species in the Brazilian Amazonia. We analyzed the relationship between the predicted distribution of coral snake species, along with envenomation data in the region, to propose actions to reduce the number of cases and to provide tools for a better policy of public health. We conclude that the entire Amazon shows high environmental suitability for coral snakes, and such suitability explains little about the incidence of cases. This is probably due to the low human density in the Amazon and to coral snake traits such as secretive habits and non-agressive behavior. Differently from other venomous snakes, the scenario regarding coral snakebites precludes the detection of prominent geographical areas of concern and demands a broad and equitable availability of health centers throughout Amazonia and along other areas of occurrence of the genus Micrurus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferreira Bisneto
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Avenida General Rodrigo Otávio, Coroado I, 69067-005 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Dom Pedro, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Luciana Frazão
- University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Paço das Escolas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Karoline Ceron
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz - Barão Geraldo, 13083-872 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Sachett
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Dom Pedro, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Carvalho Leal, 1777, Cachoeirinha, 69065-001 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Fundação Alfredo da Matta, Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Av. Codajás, 24, Cachoeirinha, 69065-130 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Dom Pedro, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Dom Pedro, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Escola Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Carvalho Leal, 1777, Cachoeirinha, 69065-001 Manaus, AM, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Av. Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Dom Pedro, 69040-000 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Igor Luis Kaefer
- Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Avenida General Rodrigo Otávio, Coroado I, 69067-005 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Thaís B Guedes
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Bloco P1, Cidade Universitária, 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil
- University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Center and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Box 461, SE-405-30, Göteborg, Sweden
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