An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract The genus  Euscorpius  Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of  Euscorpius diagorasi   sp. n. , a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male and 7 in the females, Pv = 7–8, Pe-et = 5–6, and a distinct mitochondrial lineage. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI recovered the Rhodian specimens as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, sister to...

Molecular Mechanisms of Efficacy Variation in Antivenoms: Insights from a Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) Bite in Vietnam

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Molecular Mechanisms of Efficacy Variation in Antivenoms: Insights from a Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) Bite in Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Although antivenom is the standard treatment for snakebite envenoming, its efficacy may be impacted by geographic variation in venom composition, emphasizing the need for region-specific antivenom development. Methods: We report a case of snakebite envenoming, in which the patient was bitten on the hand by a captive Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) with typical clinical manifestations following. Antivenom (produced in Thailand) was administered at 33 and 39 h post-bite. Venom from the causative individual snake was collected for compositional analysis via SDS-PAGE. Enzymatic activity of the venom was evaluated through the degradation of casein and phospholipid substrates, along with the assessment of enzymatic inhibition by two regionally specific antivenoms produced in Vietnam (AV. Cr. VN.) and Thailand (AV. Cr. TL.). Results: The patient showed good recovery, with complete normalization by day 7. SDS-PAGE profiling of the venom revealed five major enzymes, with SVSP, SVMP and PLA2 being the most abundant (16.7%, 40.11% and 26.11%, respectively). Antivenom inhibition tests revealed remaining casein percentages of 67.43% (AV. Cr. VN) and 59.35% (AV. Cr. TL). Blood agar assays indicated that phospholipase activity was reduced to 21.01% by AV. Cr. VN. and 23.30% by AV. Cr. TL. Conclusions: Our results show that the Vietnamese antivenom generated greater inhibitory activity against proteinases compared to the Thai product, underscoring the importance of using regionally specific antivenoms that are more effective against the venom profiles of locality-matched snake populations.

Le, T. Q., Nguyen, N. T., Pham, Y. B., Vu, M. B., Le, N. T., Nguyen, N. S., Balchan, N. R., Tan, C. H., Duong, T. H., Nguyen, H. H., & Nguyen, T. T. (2025). Molecular Mechanisms of Efficacy Variation in Antivenoms: Insights from a Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma) Bite in Vietnam. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 10(12), 331. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10120331