Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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We report the first documented death due to a coral snake (Micrurus species) in the United States (U. S.) in over 40 years. The victim failed to seek medical care following the bite of an eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) and succumbed within hours. ⋯ S. coral snakes are briefly reviewed in terms of their venom compositions, their clinical effects, and proper pre-hospital and hospital management. The clinical significance of the impending absence of commercially available antivenom for coral snake bites in the U. S. is highlighted.
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Epidemiological and clinical survey of scorpion envenomation was carried out by statistical method of stratified cluster random sampling in Khuzestan, the southern province of Iran, cross-sectionally. We analyzed 12,150 cases recorded in Emergency Unit of the hospitals of six cities in Khuzestan province during the year 2003. The prevalence rate of human scorpion stings in the province is 3.1/1000 inhabitants. ⋯ Nocturnal envenomations (60.9%) were more common than diurnal (39.1%), and 39.3% of stings were on the hands and 37.3% on the feet Most envenomings were mild (74.5%) that all evolved to cure, except for three deaths. Envenomation was characterized by local pain (63.3%), erythema (10.1%), vomiting (1.3%), restlessness (0.6%), hyperthermia (0.5%), sweating (0.4%), and spasmic (0.3%). With respect to the outcoming results, scorpionism in Khuzestan province of Iran is a public health problem, which needs to be monitored carefully by the government.
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Scorpion envenomations are considerable health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. There are approximately 1,500 species of scorpions worldwide. The number of dangerous species in the Buthidae family is significantly higher than in other families of scorpions. ⋯ Western blotting demonstrated immunologic reaction with the venoms. The monovalent antivenom has immunoactivity and neutralizing capacity to the scorpion venoms. This study indicates that the antivenom produced by Refik Saydam Hygiene Center could be used for the treatment of M. eupeus stings in Turkey.
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In the present study, we investigated the role of spinal nitric oxide (NO) in rat pain-related behaviors induced by the venom of scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch (BmK). The results showed that the number of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) positive neurons significantly increased in superficial (I-II), deep (V-VI) dorsal horn laminae and the ventral gray laminae (VII-X), but not in the nucleus proprius (III and IV) of bilateral L4-L5 lumbar spinal cord after unilateral intraplantar injection of BmK venom from 2h to 7d. This increase on the ipsilateral side to BmK venom injection was always greater than that on the contralateral side. ⋯ In addition, intrathecal delivery of N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME; a NOS inhibitor) before intraplantar injection of BmK venom by 10 min significantly attenuated spontaneous nociceptive responses and prevented the development of primary thermal hyperalgesia as well as bilateral mechanical hyperalgesia. Intrathecal injection of l-NAME could also partially inhibit BmK venom-induced c-Fos expression in lumbar spinal cord at 2 h. Thus, the results suggest that spinal NO as a critical mediator is involved in various pain-related behaviors and c-Fos expression induced by BmK venom in rats.
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Case Reports
A case of palytoxin poisoning due to contact with zoanthid corals through a skin injury.
A case of human poisoning by palytoxin after contact with zoanthid corals (Parazoanthus sp.) in an aquarium through skin injuries on fingers is reported. The clinical symptoms include swelling, paraesthesia and numbness around the site of the injury spreading over the arm, but also signs of systemic poisoning such as dizziness, general weakness and myalgia, irregularities in the ECG and indications of rhabdomyolysis. ⋯ The patient recovered within 3 days. Analysis of the zoanthid coral involved revealed extremely high concentrations of palytoxin (between 2 and 3 mg/g).