Title |
Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations
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Published in |
Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, March 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/s40409-015-0007-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Vidal Haddad, Hamilton Ometto Stolf, José Yamin Risk, Francisco OS França, João Luiz Costa Cardoso |
Abstract |
Lionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (1997-2014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Brazil | 1 | 20% |
Unknown | 4 | 80% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 4 | 80% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 20% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Brazil | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 46 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 9 | 19% |
Student > Bachelor | 8 | 17% |
Student > Postgraduate | 6 | 13% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 6 | 13% |
Researcher | 3 | 6% |
Other | 7 | 15% |
Unknown | 8 | 17% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 22 | 47% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 4 | 9% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 2 | 4% |
Engineering | 2 | 4% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 2 | 4% |
Other | 7 | 15% |
Unknown | 8 | 17% |