Fourteen new species and notes on the genera Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray, 2001 and Bowie Jäger, 2022 (Arachnida: Araneae: Ctenidae) from Southeast Asia

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  Fourteen new species and notes on the genera Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray, 2001 and Bowie Jäger, 2022 (Arachnida: Araneae: Ctenidae) from Southeast Asia Abstract Material of the spider family Ctenidae from Southeast Asia is investigated. Ten new species of the genus Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray, 2001 are described: A. grasshoffi sp. nov. (first record from the Philippines; male), A. kihit sp. nov. (Laos; female), A. kochang sp. nov. (Thailand; female), A. lombok sp. nov. (Indonesia; male, female), A. maimoun sp. nov. (Laos; female), A. phamom sp. nov. (Laos; female), A. penang sp. nov. (Malaysia; male), A. prangphe sp. nov. (Thailand; male, female), A. saiyok sp. nov. (Thailand; female) and A. thammim sp. nov. (Laos; male, female); the male of A. khanense Jäger & Nophaseud, 2024 is described for the first time. New records are listed for A. jagelkii Jäger, 2012 (Laos) and A. mariae Omelko & Fomichev, 2024a (Indonesia). Four new species of the genus Bowie...

Ecological and social contexts of scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis of the Brazilian Amazon

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Ecological and social contexts of scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Scorpion stings remain a significant public health problem in tropical regions, particularly in Brazil, where an estimatied 117,185 cases are reported annually, reflecting a persistent and growing burden on the healthcare system. Globally, more than two million cases occur each year, especially in areas undergoing environmental disturbances such as deforestation and unplanned urbanization. This study investigates the ecological and social contexts of scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis of the Brazilian Amazon. This qualitative study was conducted at the Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation (FMT-HVD), a reference center for scorpion stings, between January 2020 and March 2025. Data were collected through clinical questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and household field observations. Thematic analysis was performed using Atlas.ti. Thirty participants from different age groups were included. Most cases were clinically mild. Five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis that address perceptions and reactions to the sting, environmental risk factors, post-accident behaviors, emotional impacts, and patient care pathways. Participants reported overlap between domestic spaces and forest fragments, limited knowledge about prevention, emotional distress, and barriers to accessing care, including late referrals and transportation difficulties. Scorpion stings in the Amazon are shaped by environmental, social, and structural factors. Integrated strategies involving environmental management, health education, urban planning, and improved healthcare access are essential to reduce their burden.
Benzaken, Z. S., Cristino, J. S., Benzaken, H., Sachett, J., Da Silva Carvalho, E., Da Silva Mendes, Y., Da Silva Pereira, H., Silva-Neto, A., Wen, F. H., Guerra, M. D. G. V. B., & Monteiro, W. (2026). Ecological and social contexts of scorpion stings in Manaus, the largest metropolis of the Brazilian Amazon. Toxicon, 278, 109122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109122