Tityus serrulatus

Tityus serrulatus, the Brazilian yellow scorpion, is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. It is native to Brazil, and its venom is extremely toxic. It is considered the most dangerous scorpion in South America.[1]

Tityus serrulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Chelicerata
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Scorpiones
Family:
Buthidae
Genus:
Tityus
Species:
T. serrulatus
Binomial name
Tityus serrulatus
Lutz & Mello, 1922

Description

Adult specimens typically measure between 5–7 cm (2–3 in) in length.[2] As suggested by its common name, coloration consists of pale-yellow legs (8 in total) and pedipalps, with a darker shade of yellowish brown on the trunk, fingers, and tip of the tail.[2] Like other members of the family Buthidae, T. serrulatus has a bulbous tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, which is segmented with prominent ridges and serrations.[2] The tail is tipped with a venom-injecting barb capable of immobilizing prey or delivering defensive strikes.

Geographic range

The species is endemic to Brazil and widely found throughout the country, including the states of Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, and Distrito Federal.[3][4][2]

"Due to deforestation and growing urbanization, this species is becoming more and more present," according to Rogério Bertani in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian.[5] He is a scientist and scorpion specialist at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo. "I personally think that the problem will continue to grow." By 2018 there was a notable increase in the number of T. serrulatus scorpions living in the urban spaces of São Paulo, contributing to an increase in reported scorpion stings in Brazil from 12,000 in 2000 to 140,000 by 2018.[6] An abundance of prey, notably cockroaches, and shelter along with a lack of predators is believed to be a cause of the increase in scorpion numbers in Brazilian cities.[6]

Feeding

It has a diet of insects, such as cockroaches, and is suited to life in sewers and trash heaps in urban areas. Having a low metabolic rate, it can survive for months without eating.

Reproduction

The species is usually parthenogenetic.[1]

Venom

Potency

In Brazil, scorpions are credited with causing the highest incidence of human envenomations when compared to those caused by all other venomous animals, including snakes and spiders, combined.[7] With mortality rates ranging from 1.0 to 2.0% among children and elderly persons, T. serrulatus is responsible for more medically significant accidents than any other scorpion in the country.[8][9] Most stings occur in urban areas, inside or near homes, with greater frequency in the south and southeast during the warm and rainy months, but with little or no seasonal variability in the north, northeast, and center-west.[10]

Effects

In mild cases, localized pain is the primary symptom.[11] Moderate envenomations typically present with cardiac effects, hyperglycemia, fever, priapism, agitation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and hypersalivation.[12] In severe cases, prominent cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and metabolic complications often appear, along with neurological symptoms,[11] although more pronounced central nervous system manifestations, such as coma and convulsions, are somewhat rare.[13][14][15]

According to a nationwide epidemiological study of scorpion accidents that was conducted from 2000 to 2012, there were 482,616 accidents and 728 deaths reported in Brazil during that period.[16] All of the fatal cases were attributed to the genus Tityus, whereas T. serrulatus, in particular, was believed to be responsible for the vast majority of scorpion-related deaths considered by the study.[16]

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References
  1. Daniel Strickman, Stephen P. Frances & Mustapha Debboun (2009). Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease. Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-19-536578-8.
  2. Mario da Rosa, Conrado; Abegg, Arthur Diesel; Borges, Leandro Malta; Bitencourt, Gabriela S. S; Di Mare, Rocco Alfredo (2015-01-26). "New record and occurrence map of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil". Check List. 11 (1): 1556. doi:10.15560/11.1.1556. ISSN 1809-127X.
  3. Lourenço, Wilson R. (2015). "What do we know about some of the most conspicuous scorpion species of the genus Tityus? A historical approach". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 21 (1): 20. doi:10.1186/s40409-015-0016-9. ISSN 1678-9199. PMC 4470017. PMID 26085830.
  4. Manual de diagnóstico e tratamento de acidentes por animais peçonhentos. Fundação Nacional de Saúde (Brazil). Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, Fundação Nacional de Saúde. 1998. ISBN 9788573460148. OCLC 43799622.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Scorpion deaths on rise in Brazil as arachnid adapts to urban life
  6. Carvalho, Hamilton Coimbra. "Venomous yellow scorpions are moving into Brazil's big cities – and the infestation may be unstoppable". The Conversation. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  7. Brazil Ministry of Health. "Acidente por Animais Peçonhentos." ACIDENTE POR ANIMAIS PEÇONHENTOS." Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). 2017 data. Retrieved 2019-03-06. http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/tabcgi.exe?sinannet/cnv/animaisbr.def. Reported incidents involving scorpions: 123,964; snakes: 28,466; spiders: 32,714.
  8. Lourenço, W. R.; Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L.; Cuellar, O.; Eickstedt, V. R. D. Von; Barraviera, B.; Knox, M. B. (1996). "The Evolution of Scorpionism in Brazil in Recent Years". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins. 2 (2): 121–134. doi:10.1590/S0104-79301996000200005. ISSN 0104-7930.
  9. Horta, Carolina Campolina Rebello; Magalhães, Bárbara de Freitas; Oliveira-Mendes, Bárbara Bruna Ribeiro; Carmo, Anderson Oliveira do; Duarte, Clara Guerra; Felicori, Liza Figueiredo; Machado-de-Ávila, Ricardo Andrez; Chávez-Olórtegui, Carlos; Kalapothakis, Evanguedes (2014-02-13). Chippaux, Jean-Philippe (ed.). "Molecular, Immunological, and Biological Characterization of Tityus serrulatus Venom Hyaluronidase: New Insights into Its Role in Envenomation". PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 8 (2): e2693. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002693. ISSN 1935-2735. PMC 3923731. PMID 24551256.
  10. Barros, Rafaella Moreno; Pasquino, Jackeline Araujo; Peixoto, Laisla Rangel; Targino, Isabely Tamarys Gomes; Sousa, Jorge Alves de; Leite, Renner de Souza (2014). "Clinical and epidemiological aspects of scorpion stings in the northeast region of Brazil". Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. 19 (4): 1276. doi:10.1590/1413-81232014194.01602013. ISSN 1413-8123. PMID 24820610.
  11. Bucaretchi, Fábio; Fernandes, Luciane C.R.; Fernandes, Carla B.; Branco, Maíra M.; Prado, Camila C.; Vieira, Ronan J.; De Capitani, Eduardo M.; Hyslop, Stephen (2014). "Clinical consequences of Tityus bahiensis and Tityus serrulatus scorpion stings in the region of Campinas, southeastern Brazil". Toxicon. 89: 17–25. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.06.022. PMID 25011046.
  12. Santos, Maria S.V.; Silva, Cláudio G.L.; Neto, Basílio Silva; Grangeiro Júnior, Cícero R.P.; Lopes, Victor H.G.; Teixeira Júnior, Antônio G.; Bezerra, Deryk A.; Luna, João V.C.P.; Cordeiro, Josué B. (2016). "Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Scorpionism in the World: A Systematic Review". Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 27 (4): 504–518. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2016.08.003. PMID 27912864.
  13. Bonilha, Leonardo; Cendes, Fernando; Ghizoni, Enrico; Vieira, Ronan José; Li, Li Min (2004-08-01). "Epilepsy Due to a Destructive Brain Lesion Caused by a Scorpion Sting". Archives of Neurology. 61 (8): 1294–6. doi:10.1001/archneur.61.8.1294. ISSN 0003-9942. PMID 15313850.
  14. Bucaretchi, Fábio; De Capitani, Eduardo M.; Fernandes, Carla B.; Santos, Thiago M.; Zamilute, Igor A. G.; Hyslop, Stephen (2016-10-20). "Fatal ischemic stroke following Tityus serrulatus scorpion sting in a patient with essential thrombocythemia". Clinical Toxicology. 54 (9): 867–870. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1204454. ISSN 1556-3650. PMID 27386925.
  15. Souza, D.; Tanaka, K.; Algemiro, W; Dezena, R.A.; Borges, M.M.; Pereira, C.U.; Lima, A.A.; Feitosa, S.C. (2013). "Hemorrhagic stroke following scorpion sting. A case report." Revista Chilena de Neurocirugía. 39: 69-70.
  16. Reckziegel, Guilherme; Pinto, Vitor (2014). "Scorpionism in Brazil in the years 2000 to 2012". Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases Pronouced: Tit-tie-yes ser-ru-late-is. 20 (1): 46. doi:10.1186/1678-9199-20-46. ISSN 1678-9199. PMC 4396563. PMID 25873937.
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