Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation

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  Venom composition of the Iberian adder (Vipera seoanei) from northern Portugal reveals limited sex and size variation Abstract Snake venom is a complex and dynamic ecological trait, with high potential for intraspecific variation. In this study, the venom composition of the Iberian adder ( Vipera seoanei ) from the Peneda Mountains of northern Portugal was investigated to explore whether venom varies with body size and sex. Venom proteomes from six individuals representing juvenile, subadult, and adult males and females were characterised using LC–MS/MS, while individual variation was assessed from SDS–PAGE profiles of 18 snakes. LC–MS/MS identified 144 proteins, dominated by phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 ), snake venom serine proteases (svSP), and C-type lectin-related proteins (CTL). Descriptive comparisons revealed contrasting individual profiles, particularly between the juvenile male, characterised by high svSP and svMP abundance, and the juvenile female, characterised by high ...

Scorpionism in children and adolescents: clinical and epidemiological factors associated with severe cases

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Scorpionism in children and adolescents: clinical and epidemiological factors associated with severe cases

Summary

Objective: To analyze the association between epidemiological and clinical factors and the severity of scorpion accidents in children and adolescents. Methods: This is a retrospective quantitative cross-sectional study that analyzed 648 medical records of patients aged zero to twelve. The outcome variable was the severity of scorpionism, with bivariate analyzes (Pearson's Chi-Square test) and Poisson multivariate analyzes to identify associated factors. Results: It was evident that 34.7% of cases were serious, predominantly in female children, under three years of age, non-white, urban and from Montes Claros. Most accidents occurred before 5pm, in the lower limbs, with care after 1am. After-effects (RP=1.75; 95%CI 1.00-3.05) and UTI (RP=2.45 95%CI 1.23-4.88) were associated with severity, while bites in the lower limbs reduced the prevalence of serious accidents (RP= 0.76; IC95 0.6-2.94). Conclusion: The epidemiological profile indicated that the majority of bites occurred before 5 pm, with care after 1 hour, and bites in the lower limbs were associated with a lower prevalence. The clinical profile was related to ICU admission and the use of vasoactive amines. Given the importance of scorpionism in children, it is crucial to educate the population to prevent accidents and improve the prognosis.


OrnelasY. CRC, SilvaV. B. da, FortesM. AM, AlvesS. AF, SilvaD. S., PrinceK. A. de, RochaA. L. de F., RochaJ. SB, & PopoffD. AV (2024). Scorpionism in children and adolescents: clinical and epidemiological factors associated with serious cases. Electronic Magazine Acervo Saúde , 24 (5), e15972. https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e15972.2024