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Rezaei Orimi J, Eskandarzadeh N, Amrollahi-Sharifabadi M, Miri V, Aghabeiglooei Z, Rezghi M. Analyzing the biological traits of snakes in Avicenna's Canon of medicine and making a comparison with contemporary serpentology. Toxicon 2023; 231:107198. [PMID: 37331525 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Snakes are a group of reptiles in the order of squamata that have been the subject of scientific research for years. This study aimed to determine the biological characteristics of snakes that were mentioned in Avicenna's Canon of Medicine to compare with modern serpentology. Data were obtained from the Canon of Medicine using keywords concerning snakes and also appropriate literature in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Scientific Information Database (SID), and IranDoc. Our results revealed that Avicenna divided snakes into three classes including highly, moderately, and slightly venomous snakes that are comparable to modern serpontology. Moreover, Avicenna clarified physiological factors such as age, gender, size, psychological state, hunger state, physical features, the type of living climate, habitat, and the time of snakebite. Considering the snake features presented in the Canon of Medicine, even though is not feasible to make a full comparison between Avicenna's snake knowledge and modern serpentology but some characteristics can be still applicable. Conclusively, the present study suggested that the criteria used for the identification and classification of snakes have changed from the medieval ages to the nowadays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamal Rezaei Orimi
- Traditional Medicine and History of Medical Sciences Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | | | | | - Vajihe Miri
- Department of Research Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Law and Political Sciences, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Zahra Aghabeiglooei
- Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maedeh Rezghi
- Traditional Medicine and History of Medical Sciences Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
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Frýdlová P, Janovská V, Mrzílková J, Halašková M, Riegerová M, Dudák J, Tymlová V, Žemlička J, Zach P, Frynta D. The first description of dermal armour in snakes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6405. [PMID: 37076516 PMCID: PMC10115820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33244-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteoderms, also called dermal armour, often play a role in predator defence. The presence of osteoderms is highly irregularly distributed across the squamate phylogeny and they have not been found in snakes. In this study, we searched for candidate snake species that would benefit from such armour to protect their body, focusing primarily on fossorial species with defensive tail displays. We examined the tail morphology of 27 snake species from different families using micro-computed tomography (µCT) and micro- radiography. We discovered dermal armour in four species of sand boas (Erycidae) that also feature enlarged and highly modified caudal vertebrae. This is the first description of dermal armour in snakes. Ancestral state reconstructions revealed that osteoderms likely evolved once or multiple times in Erycidae. We have not found osteoderms in any other examined snake species. Nevertheless, similar structures are known from unrelated squamate clades, such as gerrhosaurids and geckos. This supports the idea of underlying deep developmental homology. We propose the hypothesis that osteoderms protect sand boas like the "brigandine armour" of medieval warriors. We interpret it as another component of the sand boas' rich defence strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Frýdlová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Janovská
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Mrzílková
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milada Halašková
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Riegerová
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dudák
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Tymlová
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Žemlička
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, 110 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Zach
- Department of Anatomy, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Frynta
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Hellebuyck T, Solanes Vilanova F. Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders of the Spectacle, Subspectacular Space, and Its Lacrimal Drainage System in Squamates. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13061108. [PMID: 36978648 PMCID: PMC10044692 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Various squamate species have completely fused eyelids that make up a transparent spectacle. The spectacle is a continuation of the integument that is renewed with each shedding cycle and creates a narrow subspectacular or corneospectacular space that is filled with lacrimal fluid. The latter is considered as the analogue of the conjunctival sac in other vertebrates. Almost all reptiles that have a spectacle lack a nictitating membrane, bursalis muscle, and lacrimal glands. The lacrimal fluid in the subspectacular space is secreted by the Harderian gland. The features of the spectacle and its lacrimal drainage system are an illustration of the enormous variation of the morphological adaptations that are seen in reptiles and one of the most distinguishable traits of snakes and most gecko species. Whereas ocular disease in squamates with a spectacle is infrequently seen in practice, disorders of the spectacle and the subspectacular space are commonly encountered. In order to apply an adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approach for these conditions, a sound knowledge and understanding of the anatomical and physiological peculiarities of the spectacle, subspectacular space, and lacrimal drainage system are fundamental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Hellebuyck
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ferran Solanes Vilanova
- Department of Pathobiology, Pharmacology and Zoological Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Cabral H, Cacciali P, Santana DJ. Evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry in the genus Xenodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blac086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Snakes are a stimulating life form from an evolutionary perspective. Despite the basic morphological body shape (limbless, with a tubular body), these vertebrates are extremely diverse. The Neotropical region is one of the most diverse regions for snakes in the world, with >650 known species. Within this great diversity, the genus Xenodon includes 12 species with interesting adaptations to terrestrial and semi-fossorial habitats. Members of this genus are mostly diurnal and terrestrial, feed mainly on anurans and exhibit Batesian mimicry of venomous snakes of the genera Bothrops or Micrurus. Here, through phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state estimation, we explore the evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry within the genus Xenodon. Our results suggest that the ancestral lineage of Xenodon had a rounded rostral scale and exhibited Bothrops mimicry. The evolution of the rostral scale in Xenodon might be related to abiotic factors, as an adaptation for open and forested habitats, and mimicry is likely to be related to biotic factors, as a defensive strategy resembling those of venomous snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cabral
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Estadual Paulista , São José do Rio Preto, SP , Brazil
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay , Del Escudo 1607, Asunción , Paraguay
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay , Avenida Coronel Carlos Bóveda, Parque Asunción Verde, Viñas Cué , Paraguay
| | - Pier Cacciali
- Instituto de Investigación Biológica del Paraguay , Del Escudo 1607, Asunción , Paraguay
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay , Avenida Coronel Carlos Bóveda, Parque Asunción Verde, Viñas Cué , Paraguay
| | - Diego José Santana
- Mapinguari Lab, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul , 79002-970, Campo Grande, MS , Brazil
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Inside the head of snakes: influence of size, phylogeny, and sensory ecology on endocranium morphology. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2401-2415. [PMID: 34287703 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02340-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Environmental properties, and the behavioral habits of species impact sensory cues available for foraging, predator avoidance and inter/intraspecific communication. Consequently, relationships have been discovered between the sensory ecology and brain morphology in many groups of vertebrates. However, these types of studies have remained scare on snake. Here, we investigate the link between endocranial shape and the sensory-related ecology of snakes by comparing 36 species of snakes for which we gathered six sensory-ecology characteristics. We use µCT scanning and 3D geometric morphometrics to compare their endocranium in a phylogenetically informed context. Our results demonstrate that size is a major driver of endocranial shape, with smaller species tending to maximize endocranial volume using a more bulbous shape, while larger species share an elongate endocranial morphology. Phylogeny plays a secondary role with more derived snakes diverging the most in endocranial shape, compared to other species. The activity period influences the shape of the olfactory and optic tract, while the foraging habitat impacts the shape of the cerebellum and cranial nerve regions: structures involved in orientation, equilibrium, and sensory information. However, we found that endocranial morphology alone is not sufficient to predict the activity period of a species without prior knowledge of its phylogenetic relationship. Our results thus demonstrate the value of utilizing endocranial shape as complementary information to size and volume in neurobiological studies.
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Ledbetter EC, Marion JS, Morrisey JK. Amniotic membrane grafting for traumatic complete spectaculectomy and keratomalacia in a Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni). Vet Ophthalmol 2021; 24:295-300. [PMID: 33590964 DOI: 10.1111/vop.12869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the surgical repair of traumatic complete spectaculectomy and keratomalacia in a snake. ANIMALS A 10.5-year-old, female, Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni) was presented with iatrogenic, near-complete spectaculectomy associated with bacterial keratitis, keratomalacia, and hypopyon. PROCEDURES Corneal samples for cytological evaluation and bacterial culture were collected. Following medical stabilization of the bacterial keratitis, a double-layered dry amniotic membrane graft was placed. The first amniotic membrane layer was placed over the cornea with the edges tucked under the peripheral remnants of the spectacle and secured in place with fibrin glue. The second amniotic membrane layer was placed over the entirety of the spectacle remnant and secured in place with a combination of fibrin glue and sutures. Topical and systemic antimicrobials, topical ophthalmic lubricants, and systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy were administered postoperatively. RESULTS Heterophilic keratitis was identified by cytology and Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus sciuri were cultured from the corneal samples. The amniotic membrane grafts remained in place for several weeks. At 4 months postoperatively, the spectacle was completely regenerated, the subspectacular space restored, and the cornea was transparent. Spectacular vascularization and fibrosis then slowly cleared over the following 6 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Amniotic membrane grafting with fibrin glue is a relatively simple and effective surgical method to reconstruct extensive defects in the reptilian spectacle and to assist in the management of bacterial keratitis associated with spectacle avulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Ledbetter
- From the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jonah S Marion
- From the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - James K Morrisey
- From the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Da Silva MAO, Gade JT, Damsgaard C, Wang T, Heegaard S, Bertelsen MF. Morphology and evolution of the snake cornea. J Morphol 2019; 281:240-249. [PMID: 31876020 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To investigate whether the thickness of the cornea in snakes correlates with overall anatomy, habitat or daily activity pattern, we measured corneal thickness using optical coherence tomography scanning in 44 species from 14 families (214 specimens) in the collection at the Natural History Museum (Denmark). Specifically, we analyzed whether the thickness of the cornea varies among species in absolute terms and relative to morphometrics, such as body length, spectacle diameter, and spectacle thickness. Furthermore, we examined whether corneal thickness reflects adaptation to different habitats and/or daily activity patterns. The snakes were defined as arboreal (n = 8), terrestrial (n = 22), fossorial (n = 7), and aquatic (n = 7); 14 species were classified as diurnal and 30 as nocturnal. We reveal that the interspecific variation in corneal thickness is largely explained by differences in body size, but find a tendency towards thicker corneas in diurnal (313 ± 227 μm) compared to nocturnal species (205 ± 169 μm). Furthermore, arboreal snakes had the thickest corneas and fossorial snakes the thinnest. Our study shows that body length, habitat, and daily activity pattern could explain the interspecific variation in corneal morphology among snakes. This study provides a quantitative analysis of the evolution of the corneal morphology in snakes, and it presents baseline values of corneal thickness of multiple snake species. We speculate that the cornea likely plays a role in snake vision, despite the fact that results from previous studies suggest that the cornea in snakes is not relevant for vision (Sivak, Vision Research, 1977, 17, 293-298).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob Thorup Gade
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Damsgaard
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tobias Wang
- Zoophysiology Section, Department of Biosciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Steffen Heegaard
- Eye Pathology Section, Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Mads Frost Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Yanqing C, Bo W, Ping W, Bisheng H, Hegang L, Chao X, Mingli W, Nili W, Di L, Zhigang H, Shilin C. Rapid identification of common medicinal snakes and their adulterants using the Bar-HRM analysis method. Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2019; 30:367-374. [PMID: 30686100 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2018.1532417] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Effective identification methods for snake species are lacking, exacerbating the extermination of medicinal and commercially valuable snake species. Hence, it is imperative to find fast and reliable methods to distinguish snake samples available on the market. Seventy-three samples from four families belonging to 13 genera were collected in China and found to contain common medicinal snakes and their adulterants. Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was utilized as a DNA barcode to analyse these common snakes, and a DNA mini-barcode was employed for fast detection. Then, the DNA mini-barcode assays were coupled with a high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis (Bar-HRM) to realize the rapid discrimination of these snake species. The results showed the power of DNA barcoding with COI, which was capable of distinguishing all collected snake samples, and the combined Bar-HRM method can successfully identify the adulterants and different snake species. In particular, Bar-HRM revealed Bungarus fasciatus adulterants in B. multicinctus at concentrations as low as 1.6%. Moreover, the results of the study confirmed the effectiveness of the technique in terms of the rapid identification of snakes, which has great potential for ensuring the safety of commercially valuable snake species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yanqing
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Wang Bo
- b Hubei Institute for Drug Control , Wuhan , China
| | - Wang Ping
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Huang Bisheng
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Liu Hegang
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China.,c Zhan Yahua National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Experts Inheritance Studio , Wuhan , China
| | - Xiong Chao
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Wu Mingli
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Wang Nili
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China
| | - Liu Di
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China.,c Zhan Yahua National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Experts Inheritance Studio , Wuhan , China
| | - Hu Zhigang
- a College of Pharmacy , Hubei University of Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , China.,c Zhan Yahua National Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Experts Inheritance Studio , Wuhan , China
| | - Chen Shilin
- d Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences , Beijing , China
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Maruyama FH, de Paula DAJ, Menezes IDG, Favalessa OC, Hahn RC, de Almeida ADBPF, Sousa VRF, Nakazato L, Dutra V. Genetic Diversity of the Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Mycopathologia 2019; 184:45-51. [PMID: 30627957 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-018-0313-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is caused by fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. Owing to its importance, this study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of C. gattii isolates from animals, humans, and the environment in Mato Grosso State (MT), Brazil, during November 2010-December 2017. All isolates of the C. gattii species complex were subjected to molecular genotyping via Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Multi-locus Sequence Typing (MLST). PCR-RFLP analysis revealed that 21 isolates presented the genotype VGII, which is considered the most common and virulent genotype globally among. MLST analysis revealed the presence of 14 sequence types (STs), of which 5 are considered new genotypes. Clonal Complex (CC) CC182 (n = 5; 23,80%) and CC309 (n = 3; 14,28%) were the most frequent. CC distribution in relation to origin revealed that three CCs were found in animals with a predominance of CC182 (66,66%), while nine were found in humans, and two CCs were found in the environment. Extensive genetic variability was observed among the isolates in the State of Mato Grosso. STs belonging to the already described clonal complexes (CC) indicate the global expansion and adaptation of isolates in several other countries. Therefore, detection of clonal complexes and STs already described in other regions and the occurrence of new STs in the present study help further the current understanding of the geographic dispersion and genetic origin of the C. gattii species complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Harumi Maruyama
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
| | - Daphine Ariadne Jesus de Paula
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Isabela de Godoy Menezes
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Olívia Cometti Favalessa
- Postgraduate Course in Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Rosane Christine Hahn
- Postgraduate Course in Health Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | | | - Valéria Régia Franco Sousa
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Luciano Nakazato
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Valéria Dutra
- Postgraduate Course in Veterinary Sciences, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil
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