Ação neuro-muscular do veneno crotálico: dados preliminares

Estudamos 6 pacientes, 2 cães e um coelho com intoxicação crotálica. Avaliamos a condução nervosa periférica sensitiva e motora, a transmissão neuromuscular e eletromiografias. As biópsias de músculo foram processadas por histoquímica. Os 6 pacientes apresentaram mononeuropatia sensitiva no nervo periférico adjacente ao local da inoculação do veneno e encontramos evidências histoquímicas de miopatia mitocondrial. Os defeitos da transmissão neuromuscular foram mínimos. A maioria dos autores admite que veneno crotálico determina síndrome miastênica. Nossos achados indicam que ptose palpebral, facies miastênico e fraqueza muscular observados após acidente crotálico, correspondem provavelmente a miopatia mitocondrial, muitas vezes transitória e reversível.

Comparison of wildlife and captivity rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus) microbiota

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Dosagem de marcadores cardíacos CK-MB e TnIc e eletrólitos no envenenamento experimental por veneno de sapo em cães

Dentre os sinais sistêmicos causados pelo envenenamento por veneno de sapo (bufotoxina) em cães, os efeitos cardiotóxicos são um dos mais importantes. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as potenciais alterações no músculo cardíaco de cães envenenados experimentalmente por veneno de sapo e observar as alterações eletrolíticas que podem ocorrer nesse tipo de envenenamento. Utilizaram-se 20 cães divididos em grupo controle (n=5) e grupo envenenado (n=15). O veneno de sapo foi extraído por meio de compressão manual das glândulas paratóides. Após anestesia geral, os cães do grupo controle receberam placebo (solução fisiológica) e os do grupo envenenado uma alíquota do veneno por sonda orogástrica. As colheitas de sangue para dosagem dos marcadores cardíacos foram realizadas seis e 24 horas após o envenenamento. As colheitas de sangue para dosagem dos eletrólitos foram realizadas antes e duas, quatro, seis e 12 horas após o envenenamento. A análise estatística empregada foi o teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Withney (P<0,05). Os cães envenenados por veneno de sapo apresentaram elevação dos níveis dos marcadores cardíacos CK-MB e TnIc, confirmando a cardiotoxicidade do veneno. Hipocalemia e hipocalcemia foram também observadas nos cães envenenados.

Morphological, morphometric, and molecular characterization of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) from naturally infected Caudisona durissa terrifica (Serpentes, Viperidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Description of gamontogonic and sporogonic stages of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) from Caudisoma durissa terrifica (Serpentes, Viperidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Seasonal variation of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) parasitemia from Boa constrictor amarali (Serpentes, Boidae) and Hydrodynastes gigas (Serpentes, Colubridae)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the parasitemia variation of three Hepatozoon species in Brazilian snakes. This study was conducted between 2001 and 2003 and included Hepatozoon terzii from Boa constrictor amarali, and Hepatozoon migonei and Hepatozoon cyclagrasi from Hydrodynastes gigas. It was observed that the parasitemia tended to decrease in all three Hepatozoon species but the parasites were not eliminated. This data suggest that Hepatozoon infection may be similar to Toxoplasma gondii infection, in that it persists throughout host life.

Megaselia scalaris (Diptera : Phoridae) causing myiasis in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes : Viperidae) in Brazil

We describe a case of myiasis in Crotalus durissus terrificus (Laurenti) caused by Megaselia scalaris (Loew). The snake was Found in Anhembi, São Paulo, Brazil, with a lesion measuring 25 mm in diameter where the larvae of M. scalaris had penetrated the ribs. The opportunistic behavior of the larvae of M. scalaris is discussed.

Rhabdias filicaudalis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from the snake Spilotes pullatus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Predation on the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Sauria: Teiidae) by a coral snake Micrurus frontalis (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Brazil.

We report a case of elapid predation on a lizard in Brazilian Savannah. A subterranean coral snake (Micrurus frontalis) was found preying a green lizard (Ameiva ameiva) in Southeastern Brazil.

Análise morfológica da glândula de veneno de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em populações de Mato Grosso do Sul

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Meal size and specific dynamic action in the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus (Serpentes : Viperidae)

We studied the effect of meal size on specific dynamic action (SDA) in the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus, by measuring oxygen consumption rates (VO2) prior to and after the ingestion of meals ranging from 10-50% of snake's body mass. Regardless of meal size, variation in VO2 with time during digestion demonstrated the same general pattern. Oxygen consumption rates peaked between 15 and 33 h post-feeding, at values 3.7-7.3 times those prior to feeding. Snakes, while digesting meals of 30% and 50% of their body mass, experienced VO2 that exceeded rates measured during forced activity. Following peaks in VO2, rates returned to prefeeding values within 62-170 h post-feeding. Post-prandial peak in VO2 and the duration of the metabolic response to feeding increased with meal size. Digestion is an energetically demanding activity for C. durissus, with an estimated cost equaling 12-18% of the ingested assimilated energy.

Diet of the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus in southeastern Brazil (Serpentes, Viperidae)

Gut contents of 633 live rattlesnakes from southeastern Brazil received at the Instituto Butantanitute, SP, Brazil between 1993 and 1995 were studied. The snakes were weighed, measured and sexed. Two hundred and fifty-nine rattlesnakes had stomach and/or intestinal contents. Prey size was estimated by comparison of prey items with specimens from museum collections. Rodents and small marsupials were the main prey eaten by the rattlesnakes, and only 1% of the items were found in the stomach, whereas 41% of the individuals in the sample had feces in the intestine. There was low correlation between size of snake and prey size. No seasonal difference in frequency was found between fed and not fed males, but the occurrence of fed females was significantly lower during summer than winter months (28.9% and 51.8%, respectively). Fed newborn rattlesnakes had the lowest frequency, and also fed on rodents.

Hábitos alimentares de serpentes em Espigão do Oeste, Rondônia, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Postprandial thermogenesis in Bothrops moojeni (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Circadian pattern of Bothrops moojeni in captivity (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)