Trauma and envenoming caused by stingrays and other fish in a fishing community in Pontal do Paranapanema, state of São Paulo, Brazil: epidemiology, clinical aspects, and therapeutic and preventive measures

Envenomations caused by fish in Brazil: an evolutionary, morphological, and clinical vision of a neglected problem

Venomous fish are commonly found in Brazilian waters. The most important marine venomous fish species are stingrays (Dasyatidae, Gimnuridae, Myliobatidae, and Rhinopteridae families), catfish (Ariidae family), scorpionfish and lionfish (both Scorpaenidae family), and toadfish (Batrachoididae family). Meanwhile, Potamotrygonidae stingrays and Pimelodidae catfish are the most important venomous freshwater fish. The mechanisms of envenomation vary and involve various venomous apparatuses and glands. Despite not being highly developed, these venomous apparatuses in fish appear rudimentary, using structures such as fins and rays to inoculate toxins and rarely presenting with specialized structures. Toxins are produced by glandular tissue made up of proteinaceous cells, lacking true glands, and are positioned along the inoculation structures. However, systemic manifestations are rare. No antivenom serum has been developed for any species of American venomous fish. Brazilian venomous fish and their venoms have only recently attracted attention, leading to new studies not only addressing clinical issues in humans, but also exploring the discovery of new active substances with immense pharmacological potential.

Mapping of the venomous stingrays of the Potamotrygon genus in the Tietê River, São Paulo Sstate, Brazil

Background:

Freshwater stingrays are fish that have adapted to the rivers and lakes in South America. The expansion of the Potamotrygonidae family in the Paraná River began after the damming of the Sete Quedas Falls, reaching the mouth of the Paranapanema and Tietê rivers approximately 20 years ago via the locks of the hydroelectric power plants. They are not aggressive animals; however, they have one to four stingers on their tails covered by a venom-producing epithelium and can cause severe envenomation in fishermen and bathers if stepped on or manipulated.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive, retrospective, and prospective study by monitoring the fishing of the Potamotrygon genus in the lower Tietê River, mapping the location of the rays as a fishery product of professional fishermen and/or recording images of the fish caught.

Results:

Sixteen stingrays of the Potamotrygon genus were mapped by monitoring fishermen's fish products in the extensive area between the municipalities of Pereira Barreto and Buritama, São Paulo state.

Conclusions:

The lower Tietê River is fully colonized by freshwater stingrays and this expansion likely continues upstream, reaching various sub-basins of the river. The advancement of these venomous fish in areas where they did not exist previously requires education programs and interaction with the community to avoid serious injuries in bathers and fishermen and the unreasonable extermination of the animals.

Skin and stinger bacterial communities in two critically endangered rays from the South Atlantic in natural and aquarium settings

Bacterial communities of two critically endangered rays from the South Atlantic, the butterfly ray (Gymnura altavela) and the groovebelly ray (Dasyatis hypostigma), were described using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. The study characterized the bacterial communities associated with (i) G. altavela in natural (in situ) and aquarium (ex situ) settings, (ii) skin and stinger of G. altavela, and D. hypostigma in aquaria, and (iii) newborns and adults of D. hypostigma. The results revealed potentially antibiotic‐producing bacterial groups on the skin of rays from the natural environment, and some taxa with the potential to benefit ray health, mainly in rays from the natural environment, as well as possible pathogens to other animals, including fish and humans. Differences were observed between the G. altavela and D. hypostigma bacteria composition, as well as between the skin and stinger bacterial composition. The bacterial community associated with D. hypostigma changed with the age of the ray. The aquarium environment severely impacted the G. altavela bacteria composition, which changed from a complex bacterial community to one dominated almost exclusively by two taxa, Oceanimonas sp. and Sediminibacterium sp. on the skin and stinger, respectively.

Injuries caused by fish to fishermen in the Vale do Alto Juruá, Western Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to document injuries caused by fish among professional fishermen in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

METHODS

We undertook a descriptive, retrospective study, involving 51 professional fishermen, to determine clinical, epidemiological, and therapeutic aspects of their injuries.

RESULTS

Among 51 fishermen interviewed, most injuries were due to mandi (Pimelodus spp.), and the hands were the most injured region, resulting in pain and bleeding in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings confirm the morbidity of fish-related injuries, and reaffirm the need for relevant information regarding prevention and injury management.

A Review of Epidemiological Studies in Latin American Fishing

Objectives: Maritime health and safety research primarily comes from developed industrial countries, with sparse contributions from developing countries. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the research in Latin American fishery to point out the need for research and prevention in this part of the world.Methods: A systematic search was carried out with Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, Google Academico, SciELO, Pan American Journal of Public Health, Medicina Maritima, and other relevant Spanish- and English-language journals in Latin America (1984-2018). By using the ICD-10 system we were able to identify the most important studies related to the research questions.Results: A total of 143 scientific articles were identified under the criteria. After duplicates, administrative reports, and conference abstracts were removed, 110 original articles were screened. Of those, 89 peer-reviewed articles on fishermen's health and safety fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the final evaluation. Brazil accounted for the largest share (49), while eight other countries had one to nine studies (and the rest zero). Study objectives included occupational injuries, cancer, divers' disease, skin diseases, hearing loss, ergonomic problems, and environmental pollution. Non-fatal and fatal accident studies in fishing were absent.Conclusion: The lack of occupational injury studies is striking, and it urgently calls for establishing injury registers and monitoring safety in fishing. Among the occupational diseases, pityriasis of the eyes and different types of skin cancer (related ultraviolet radiation exposure) need critical attention and prevention. The scant number of epidemiological studies calls for collaborative international research to establish preventive polices and activities in fishing.

Profile of skin diseases in a community of fishermen in the northern coast of the state of São Paulo: the expected and the unusual

BACKGROUND

The fishing colony of the Picinguaba neighborhood is located at the northern end of the coast of the state of São Paulo. It has about 300 residents, of which approximately 100 are professional fishermen.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the main dermatoses of the community in comparison with other populations, and their frequency.

METHODS

The dermatoses were identified and tabulated for two years, in a prospective study carried out on monthly trips to the fishermen's colony in Picinguaba.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighteen patients were attended and followed up, which is equivalent to about 1/3 of the colony's inhabitants. Of these, 43 were children (under the age of 14) and 75 were adolescents and adults. The diseases observed were catalogued according to the age groups. Although most dermatoses in the community were similar with those observed in the general population, some specific cases could be seen, such as folliculitis on the legs of fishermen and an unexpected low frequency of actinic lesions in the colony, as well as dermatitis by aquatic animals.

STUDY LIMITATIONS

The limitations were monthly attendance and the spontaneous demand of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of community-specific dermatoses and the low incidence of malignant and pre-malignant tumors associated with sun exposure needs further studies for better clarification.

Delayed healthcare and secondary infections following freshwater stingray injuries: risk factors for a poorly understood health issue in the Amazon

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to describe the profile of freshwater stingray injuries in the State of Amazonas, Brazilian Amazon, and to identify the associated risk factors for secondary infections.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used surveillance data from 2007 to 2014 to identify factors associated with secondary infections from stingray injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 476 freshwater stingray injuries were recorded, with an incidence rate of 1.7 cases/100,000 person/year. The majority of injuries were reported from rural areas (73.8%) and 26.1% were related to work activities. A total of 74.5% of patients received medical assistance within the first 3 hours of injury. Secondary infections and necrosis were observed in 8.9% and 3.8%, respectively. Work-related injuries [odds ratio (OR) 4.1, confidence interval (CI); 1.87-9.13] and >24 hours from a sting until receiving medical care (OR; 15.5, CI; 6.77-35.40) were independently associated with the risk of secondary bacterial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, work-related injuries and >24 hours from being stung until receiving medical care were independently and significantly associated with the risk of secondary infection. The frequency of infection following sting injuries was 9%. The major factor associated with the risk of secondary bacterial infection was a time period of >24 hours from being stung until receiving medical care.

Injuries caused by the venomous catfish pintado and cachara (Pseudoplatystoma genus) in fishermen of the Pantanal region in Brazil

INTRODUCTION

the fishing activity throughout the Upper Paraguay River Basin has huge financial and biological importance. This retrospective study investigated the occurrence of injuries caused by fish of the Pseudoplatystoma genus (spotted catfish or pintado and striped catfish or cachara) in professional fishermen of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul State.

METHODS

we collected information through a questionnaire, showing that fishing is carried out by workers with low level of education, mainly adults or seniors with low financial gains.

RESULTS

in Miranda town, 126 of 315 fishermen were interviewed and 38 individuals reported injuries (30.16%). In Corumbá town, 355 of 627 fishermen were interviewed, and 111 (56,61%) reported injuries. The lacerated lesions were the most common, associate with edema, erythema, radiating pain to the root of the limb, paresthesias and local necrosis. More rarely, they reported the occurrence of fever, cardiac arrhythmias and cold sweating. These manifestations may be associated with late secondary infections or envenomations caused by the toxins in the stingers of the fish. Many questionable and inappropriate treatments are used, sometimes aggravating the injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

the freshwater professional fishermen need guidance on first aid measures and prevention of accidents caused by these venomous fish.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup: communicable disease risks and advice for visitors to Brazil--a review from the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI)

The next FIFA World Cup will be held in Brazil in June-July 2014. Around 600,000 international visitors and participants (as well over 3 million domestic travelers) are expected. This event will take place in twelve cities. This event poses specific challenges, given its size and the diversity of attendees, including the potential for the transmission of imported or endemic communicable diseases, especially those that have an increased transmission rate as a result of close human proximity, eg, seasonal influenza, measles but also tropical endemic diseases. In anticipation of increased travel, a panel of experts from the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI) developed the current recommendations regarding the epidemiology and risks of the main communicable diseases in the major potential destinations, recommended immunizations and other preventives measures to be used as a basis for advice for travelers and travel medicine practitioners. Mosquito-borne infections also pose a challenge. Dengue poses a significant risk in all states, including the host cities. Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended except for travelers who will only visit coastal areas. Travelers visiting high-risk areas for malaria (Amazon) should be assessed regarding the need for chemoprophylaxis. Chikunguya fever may be a threat for Brazil, given the presence of Aedes aegypti, vector of dengue, and the possibility of travelers bringing the virus with them when attending the event. Advice on the correct timing and use of repellents and other personal protection measures is key to preventing these vector-borne infections. Other important recommendations for travelers should focus on preventing water and food-borne diseases such as hepatitis A, typhoid fever, giardiasis and traveler's diarrhea. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) should be also mentioned and the use of condoms advocated. This review addresses pre-travel, preventive strategies to reduce the risk of acquiring communicable diseases during a mass gathering such as the World Cup and also reviews the spectrum of endemic infections in Brazil to facilitate the recognition and management of infectious diseases in travelers returning to their countries of origin.

Catfish noodling forearm injury requiring urgent surgical treatment: a case report and review of the literature

"Noodling" is an ancient form of hand fishing recently gaining in popularity as a hobby and sport. We present one of the first case reports of a noodling injury in an adolescent male seeking to land a large catfish, and also review the literature on catfish-related injuries.