Clinical characteristics and long-term disabilities in children following Bothrops atrox envenomation in Manaus, western Brazilian Amazon

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  Image Credit: By Darío De la Fuente - https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/113840233, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129474300 Clinical characteristics and long-term disabilities in children following Bothrops atrox envenomation in Manaus, western Brazilian Amazon Abstract Background:   In the Brazilian Amazon, most snakebites are caused by Bothrops atrox . Although pediatric cases are less frequent, children are more vulnerable to severe complications and long-term disabilities. This study aims to describe the clinical profile of B. atrox envenomation in children treated at a tertiary hospital in Manaus, in Western Brazilian Amazon, and to characterize the resulting long-term musculoskeletal impairments in a subgroup of these patients. Methods:   We retrospectively analyzed sociodemographic and clinical data from patients up to 12 years and 11 months of age treated between January 2010 and December 2023. A total of 258 children who were ...

Description of a new Andean species of widow spider (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus)

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Description of a new Andean species of widow spider (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus)

Abstract

We describe a new species of widow spider (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus) from the Andean region. DNA barcode sequences are provided. The species is documented from museum specimens across Peru and identified from photographs on iNaturalist, extending its inferred distribution into Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. We integrate specimen and citizen-science occurrences to generate a species distribution model using WorldClim bioclimatic variables, predicting highest suitability along temperate to high-elevation Andean regions. We discuss the utility and limitations of citizen-science imagery for delimiting and mapping species and summarize available information on clinical aspects of envenomation in Peru associated with the local “lucacha” widow spider.

Miller J, Kratzer CA, Griswold C (2026) Description of a new Andean species of widow spider (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus). ZooKeys 1281: 49-67. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1281.185973