Envenomation by an opisthoglyphous snake, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae), in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Snakebites by aglyphous or opisthoglyphous snakes are common in Brazil. We report a case of snakebite by the opisthoglyphous Erythrolamprus aesculapii. The victim presented with pain, edema, and bleeding at the bite site, along with erythema, similar to a Bothrops envenomation. In this type of snakebite, if the snake is not brought to the hospital, the victim may receive unnecessary serum therapy, with the risk of adverse reactions to the antivenom. The possibility of reducing after-effects with anti-inflammatory drugs and early antibiotic therapy for secondary infection need to be further investigated, preferably in multicenter studies, while observing good clinical practice.

Composition and natural history of a snake community from the southern Cerrado, southeastern Brazil

“…Furthermore, besides being a supposed mimic of elapids (e.g., Micrurus frontalis ), this species can also hide its head ( Martins et al 2008 ; Marques et al 2015 ) and compress its body while raising its head ( Greene 1979 ). An envenomation by this species at the SBES (MRCM 361) was described by Menegucci et al (2019) .…”

A new case of envenomation by neotropical opisthoglyphous snake Philodryas olfersii (Lichtenstein, 1823) in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

“…Symptoms similar to those reported in the present study, such as pain, edema, bleeding at the injury site, erythema, and paresthesia, from bites of non-venomous opistoglyph snakes, can be confused with symptoms presenting in after pit viper (Bothrops spp.) bites, and lead to sometimes inopportune use of anti-ophidic serum 4 . In addition, some pit viper bites can cause lesions that often result in secondary infections by microorganisms that are often associated with the buccal flora of snakes 10 .…”

Lista comentada de las serpientes de la Argentina, con referencias a su sistemática, distribución geográfica, dieta, reproducción, potencial peligrosidad y etimologías

“…Su veneno posee actividad anticoagulante y los síntomas locales son dolor y edema progresivo. Recientemente Sánchez et al (2019) realizan un importante análisis bioquímico y toxicológico del veneno de esta especie, y Menegucci et al (2019) describen un caso en el sureste de Brasil, donde el accidentado presentó dolor, edema y sangrado en el sitio de la mordedura, junto con eritema, síntomas similares a un envenenamiento por Bothrops. Estos autores recomiendan ser especialmente cautelosos al manipular especies "no venenosas" que pueden causar intoxicación, no solo en el caso de Erythrolamprus, sino también en especies de géneros como Philodryas, Thamnodynastes, Apostolepis, Phalotris, Clelia e Hydrodynastes.…”