[Aquatic animals of medical importance in Brazil]

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2003 Sep-Oct;36(5):591-7. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822003000500009. Epub 2003 Oct 21.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The injuries caused by venomous and poisonous aquatic animals may provoke important morbidity in the victim. The cnidarians (jellyfishes, especially cubomedusas and Portuguese-Man-of-War) caused nearly 25% of 236 accidents by marine animals, while sea urchins were responsible for about 50% and catfish, stingrays and scorpionfish nearly 25%). In freshwater, stingrays and catfish cause injuries with a very similar mechanism to the poisoning and the effects of the toxins of marine species. In a series of about 200 injuries observed among freshwater fishermen, nearly 40% were caused by freshwater catfish, 5% freshwater stingrays and 55% by traumatogenic fish, such as piranhas and traíras. The author presents the aquatic animals that cause injuries to humans in Brazil, the clinical aspects of the envenoming and the first measures for the control of the severe pain observed mainly in the accidents caused by cnidarians and venomous fishes.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidents*
  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings / etiology*
  • Brazil
  • Cnidaria*
  • Cnidarian Venoms / adverse effects
  • Fish Venoms / adverse effects
  • Fishes, Poisonous*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Cnidarian Venoms
  • Fish Venoms