Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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Scorpion envenomation is a poorly explored problem in French Guiana. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of scorpion stings. ⋯ Scorpion envenomation is an increasing accident in French Guiana. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and can require ICU admission. Practitioners have to be made aware of severe cases found mainly in children.
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Rattlesnake bites in horses are not uncommon and the clinical outcomes are widely variable. Treatment of horses with anti-venom is often cost prohibitive and could have negative consequences; therefore, the development of a quantitative test to determine if anti-venom therapy is indicated would be valuable. The objective of this study was to develop an ELISA to detect rattlesnake venom in biological samples from clinically bitten horses. ⋯ For this, first peak venom concentration needs to be determined. More frequent, consistent sample collection will be required to define a venom elimination pattern in horses and determine the ideal sample collection time to best estimate the maximum venom dose. This report describes development of an assay with the ability to detect rattlesnake venom in the urine and at the bite site of horses with a clinical diagnosis of rattlesnake bite.