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 ...

Mygalomorphae spiders (Araneae) recorded by the Sistema de Notificação de Animais Peçonhentos (SINAP) in the state of Paraná

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Mygalomorphae spiders (Araneae) recorded by the Sistema de Notificação de Animais Peçonhentos (SINAP) in the state of Paraná

ABSTRACT

Despite their large size and intimidating appearance, most mygalomorph spiders do not cause severe envenomation in Brazil. “Programa Estadual de Vigilância de Acidentes por Animais Peçonhentos da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde do Paraná”, through the “Sistema de Notificação de Animais Peçonhentos” (SINAP), documents the occurrence of synanthropic species captured by the public and reported to municipal health services. In this study, we present a list of the mygalomorph species received by Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Paraná (SESA) and their distribution across the state of Paraná, based on the SINAP reports. A total of 575 mygalomorph specimens were identified, originating from all 22 Regional Health Centers (RS) of SESA-PR. We identified species of four families: Actinopodidae (on species: Actinopus itapitocai); Dipluridae (1 species: Diplura catharinensis; Pycnothelidae (two species: Psalistopoides emanueli, and P. fulvimanus); and Theraphosidae (10 species in four genera: Acanthoscurria paulensis, Eupalaestrus campestratus, Grammostola actaeon, Pterinopelma longisternale, Tekoapora wacketi, Vitalius dubius, V. lucasae, V. paranaensis, V. sorocabae and V. vellutinus). Of the aforementioned species, Vitalius paranaensis has the widest distribution, occurring in all Regional Centers of Health except Paranaguá. The other most frequently collected species were Pterinopelma longisternale, Vitalius sorocabae, and Psalistopoides emanueli. In total, the 575 records resulted in only 12 accidents. The results highlight the broad distribution of some species; contributes to the identification of the main species encountered by the population and reported to SINAP in Paraná; and helps to bring attention to the low number of accidents caused by these large-sized spiders.

Brescovit, A. D., Lucas, S. M., Iniesta, L. F. M., & Marques-da-Silva, E.. (2024). Mygalomorphae spiders (Araneae) recorded by the Sistema de Notificação de Animais Peçonhentos (SINAP) in the state of Paraná. Zoologia (curitiba), 41, e23051. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689.v41.e23051