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Machado M, Wilson TM, Ribeiro de Sousa DE, Lopes Câmara AC, Furlan FH, Silva Almeida E Macêdo JT, Pupin RC, Amaral de Lemos RA, Armién AG, Barros SS, Riet-Correa F, Botelho de Castro M. Fatal lancehead pit viper (Bothrops spp.) envenomation in horses. Toxicon 2019; 170:41-50. [PMID: 31499078 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Snake bite envenomations in farm animals are generally overestimated as the cause of mortality in rural areas in Latin America. However, most cases are based only on anecdotal information and assumptions, and lack diagnostic evidence. There are few proven reports of envenomation and death in horses caused by snakebites from members of the Bothrops genus (lancehead pit vipers). This study presents epidemiological and clinical-pathological findings of fatal bothropic envenomation in horses from Central Western Brazil in order to contribute to the correct diagnosis of this condition. A survey of the records of equine necropsies from the Veterinary Pathology Laboratories of the University of Brasilia, Federal University of Mato Grosso and Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, from January 2010 to February 2018, was performed. Five fatal cases of bothropic snakebite were identified in 755 necropsies of horses, corresponding to 0.66% of these cases, ranging annually from 0.33% to 0.89%. The main necropsy findings were marked swelling and diffuse subcutaneous hemorrhage, and identification of the fang marks in 2 out of five horses. Hemorrhage in most organs and tissues was the pathological hallmark of systemic envenomation. Myonecrosis, dermonecrosis, and moderate to severe kidney degeneration and necrosis were also observed. Fatal Bothrops snakebites in horses have a low occurrence in Central Western Brazil and most cases occur in the rainy season. The diagnosis of this condition may be substantiated by clinical signs and pathological findings. Local hemorrhage and necrosis, systemic hemorrhagic disorders and injuries related to acute kidney injury are the predominant clinical signs. These findings should be considered in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these envenomations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizael Machado
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Tais Meziara Wilson
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Davi Emanuel Ribeiro de Sousa
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Lopes Câmara
- Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), SIT PqEAT, Granja do Torto, 70297-400, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Fernando Henrique Furlan
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa 2367, Boa Esperança, 78060-900, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Juliana Targino Silva Almeida E Macêdo
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Rayane Chitolina Pupin
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Müller 2443, 79074-460, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Antônio Amaral de Lemos
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Av. Senador Filinto Müller 2443, 79074-460, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Anibal G Armién
- Ultrastructural Pathology Unit, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 1333 Gortner Ave, MN 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Severo Sales Barros
- Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, 96010-900, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Franklin Riet-Correa
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Estación Experimental INIA La Estanzuela, Ruta 50 Km 11, Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay
| | - Márcio Botelho de Castro
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
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