Marine catfish sting causing fatal heart perforation in a fisherman

Catfish spine injury to the hand with transient lymphangitis

ABSTRACT

This case report describes a 45-year-old man whose left hand was skewered by a catfish spine while he was attempting to dehook the fish. Catfish spines can create punctures, lacerations, and foreign body injuries. The catfish spine generally is serrated, which can make removal difficult.

Clinical Considerations in Initial Evaluation and Treatment of Hardhead Catfish Spine Puncture Wounds

A 17-year-old male presented to our ED complaining of pain and swelling at the base of the first metacarpal after attempting to remove a catfish from his fishing line 12 hours prior to arrival. Radiographic images demonstrated a foreign body (FB), which was detectable by ultrasound. Hand surgery was consulted and took the patient to the operating room for exploration and removal of two serrated radiopaque catfish spines that were deeply embedded in the left thumb. Conclusion. Penetrating injury from hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) spines can cause hidden FB, envenomation, infection, and secondary damage to nearby structures. Imaging should be done for these patients to ensure they obtain timely and complete extraction of the venomous structures. Surgery should be consulted for operative management to avoid damage on removal of the catfish spine remnants.

A Recreational Fishing Death Due to a Jumping Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)

Commercial or recreational fishing may be associated with a wide range of potentially lethal events. We report the case of a 56-year-old man who died of blunt force chest and abdominal trauma after impact with a large Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) that had jumped into his recreational fishing boat. Injuries at autopsy included soft tissue bruising with fractured ribs, a ruptured diaphragm, intestinal and mesenteric contusions, contusion and disruption of the pancreas, and hilar splenic lacerations with a left-sided hemothorax and a hematoperitoneum. The clear temporal association of pain and progressive deterioration leading to cardiac arrest after the impact indicated that lethal injuries had been sustained. A variety of fish and cetacean species are known to jump out of the water sometimes to escape predators. It was reported that a large number of jumping fish being pursued by sharks were observed in the harbor on the day of the reported incident. This case demonstrates that lethal blunt abdominothoracic trauma may be caused by impact with Spanish mackerel, increasing the range of potentially dangerous situations that may be encountered while fishing.

Catfish Bite Case Report

Although catfish are found worldwide and commonly consumed in the southern United States, fatal infections from catfish are rare. Edwardsiella tarda is a bacterium known to cause gastrointestinal distress most commonly, but extraintestinal infections are a rarely considered danger for those acquiring, preparing, and consuming aquatic animals. Susceptible to all gram-negative active antibiotics, it is easily treated except in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with malignancy, diabetes, and hepatic dysfunction.

Recreational and Commercial Catfishing Injuries: A Review of the Literature

Catfish injuries are increasingly common from the recreational activities of hobbyists, fishermen, and "noodling" enthusiasts as well as in the commercial catfish industry, most commonly in Brazil. Injuries can range from mild skin abrasions to life-threatening infections and tissue damage requiring urgent treatment. Most injuries and subsequent morbidity associated with catfish encounters involve the dorsal and pectoral fins. These injuries are most often lacerations involving the upper extremities. Deep, penetrating catfish spine injuries can lead to serious injuries, including arterial and nerve lacerations. Catfish venom is released when a spine is torn. The venom may cause reactions that include erythema, edema, local hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, and muscle contractions. When "finned" by a catfish, the fish's spine may separate from the fish, which can cause a foreign body embedment. Some injuries are not thought to be severe enough at the time of injury to require medical care, although symptoms may arise years later. In this literature review of catfishing injuries, references were obtained through a PubMed search of the following terms: catfish injuries, fishing, envenomation, spine, and aquatic infection. Articles were chosen for citation based on pertinence to the topic of catfishing.

Freshwater Catfish Envenoming in a Tropical Country

OBJECTIVE

Freshwater catfish are known to cause painful stings in humans. Stings usually cause mild envenomation and, in some instances, can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections. Sri Lanka is a tropical country where catfish stings are not rare. However, presenting signs and symptoms, complications, and management options are scarce in the literature.

METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by reviewing patient records in the university surgical units and surgical clinic in the teaching hospital in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, during 2015.

RESULTS

Ten patients presented to the hospital following catfish stings. The common presenting features following stings were severe pain, swelling, and lymphadenopathy followed by cellulitis. Late complication such as tenosynovitis were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine procedures are sufficient to reduce further complications. However, people who are at high risk of encountering catfish, and travelers visiting tropical countries, should be aware of the possibility of stings and take necessary precautions.

Animal-related fatalities--part I: characteristic autopsy findings and variable causes of death associated with blunt and sharp trauma

Animals may be responsible for an array of potentially lethal injuries. Blunt force injuries characteristically involve larger animals such as cattle or horses that may kick, crush, or trample a victim causing head and facial injuries. Farm workers in particular are at high risk of lethal injuries involving the head and torso. Significant blunt trauma may be found in vehicle occupants after collisions with large animals such as camels or moose. Rarely, zookeepers may be crushed by particularly massive animals such as elephants. Sharp force injuries usually involve carnivore bites, most often from dogs with a "hole and tear" pattern of wounding. Injuries from animals such as alligators and sharks may have a significant component of crushing. Incised wounds may result in death from exsanguination and air embolism. On occasion, blunt or sharp trauma from animal activity may be confused with postmortem damage or with inflicted injury from an assault.