A major and important review on scorpionism, toxicology, medical important species and their distribution in Amazonia

 

Amazonia hosts a large numbers of scorpions, many of which are of medical importance in humans. All of these belong to the species rich genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae). There have been a lot of research on scorpionism in South America and Tityus in particular, but few reviews looking on the larger picture.

Adolfo Borges and co-workers have now published a major review going through the literature on scorpionism in Amazonia, but also mapping all Tityus species in the region and their medical importance. Updated knowledge on taxonomy and phylogeny of the Tityus populations is essential in the context of public health and preventing accidents involving dangerous scorpions. The article also sum up the knowledge on venom toxicology and physiopathology of the species in the region.

This is an important article that sums up much of the currently known information on scorpionism in Amazonia, species involved and their distribution.

Abstract:
Venom from Amazonian scorpions of the genus Tityus contains components capable of eliciting a distinct clinical, mostly neurological, syndrome. This contrasts with the mainly autonomic manifestations produced after envenomation by congeneric southern and northern South American species. Herein, we summarize Pan-Amazonian scorpionism by synthesizing available toxinological, clinical, and molecular data gathered from all affected areas in Amazonia, including Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and French Guiana. We searched multiple databases, as well as our own records, for reports of scorpion envenomations in Amazonia by confirmed Tityus spp., and compared the clinical manifestations. To help uncover clinical and venom relationships among problematic species, we explored phylogenetic relationships with a rate-calibrated analysis of mitochondrial COI data from available species. The possible existence of diversity gradients for venom toxic and immunogenic components despite the predicted strong phylogenetic association among species is underscored by discussed clinical and toxinological findings. A multicentric effort, involving all nations affected by this neglected disease, is urgently needed to offer alternatives for treating and understanding this pathology, including the preparation of neutralizing antibodies with a broad range of efficacy.

Reference:
Borges A, Graham MR, Cândido DM, Pardal PPO. Amazonian scorpions and scorpionism: integrating toxinological, clinical, and phylogenetic data to combat a human health crisis in the world’s most diverse rainfores. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2021;27:Published online: 29 November 2021. [Open Access]

Thanks to Adolfo Borges and Victor Fet for sending me this article!