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Fatal lancehead pit viper (Bothrops spp.) envenomation in horses.
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.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-09-06 PubMed ID: 31499078DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.09.002Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study focuses on investigating the causes and impacts of fatal envenomation due to lancehead pit viper (Bothrops spp.) snakebites in horses, primarily in Central Western Brazil. The findings emphasize a low occurrence, predominantly in the rainy season, characterized by clinical signs such as local hemorrhage, necrosis, systemic bleeding issues, and acute kidney injury.
Study Overview: Objective and Methodology
- The study investigates cases of snakebite envenomation in horses caused by Bothrops spp. (lancehead pit vipers), a scenario often overlooked or overestimated in Latin American rural areas due to lack of diagnostic evidence.
- The researchers conducted a survey of equine necropsy records from renowned Veterinary Pathology Laboratories in Brazil, studying cases reported between January 2010 and February 2018.
Key Findings
- Out of 755 necropsies of horses, the researchers identified five fatal cases of bothropic snakebite, representing only 0.66% of the total cases reviewed. Annually, these figures ranged from 0.33% to 0.89%, denoting a relatively low occurrence.
- The primary necropsy findings included marked swelling and diffuse subcutaneous hemorrhage. Fang marks were identified in 2 out of the 5 horses affected.
- The pathological evidence of systemic envenomation was widespread bleeding across most organs and tissues.
- Owing to the snake venom, myonecrosis (muscle tissue death), dermonecrosis (skin tissue death), and moderate to severe kidney degeneration and death were also observed.
Implications and Conclusions
- These results imply that Bothrops snakebites in horses occur at a low rate in Central Western Brazil, primarily in the rainy season.
- Diagnosis can be confirmed through clinical observations and the identification of specific pathological symptoms. These include local hemorrhage, necrosis, systemic hemorrhagic disorders, and acute kidney injury.
- These findings provide a basis for appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic management of Bothrops envenomations, thereby facilitating more accurate mortality estimates in rural areas of Latin America.
Cite This Article
APA
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.
(2019).
Fatal lancehead pit viper (Bothrops spp.) envenomation in horses.
Toxicon, 170, 41-50.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.09.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), SIT PqEAT, Granja do Torto, 70297-400, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- 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.
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ultrastructural Pathology Unit, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 1333 Gortner Ave, MN 55108, St. Paul, MN, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Pelotas, Campus Capão do Leão, 96010-900, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Estación Experimental INIA La Estanzuela, Ruta 50 Km 11, Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay.
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Via L4 Norte, sn/, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, 70636-200, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil. Electronic address: mbcastro2005@yahoo.com.br.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Kidney Injury / etiology
- Acute Kidney Injury / veterinary
- Animals
- Bothrops
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Crotalid Venoms / toxicity
- Hemorrhage / etiology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horses
- Necrosis / etiology
- Necrosis / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Snake Bites / complications
- Snake Bites / epidemiology
- Snake Bites / mortality
- Snake Bites / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Migliorisi A, Johnson T, Nelson T, Elane GL, Ueda Y, Hobbs KJ. Snake envenomation in veterinary medicine: comparative insights and emerging therapies. Front Vet Sci 2026;13:1750963.
- Henderson EE, Stadler CK, Poppenga RH, Asin Ros J, Uzal FA. Rattlesnake envenomation in 2 Visayan warty pigs. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Jan;34(1):136-140.
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