Epidemiological and clinical aspects of ophidian bothropic accidents in dogs

Abstract

Snakebites are included in the group of emergencies for domestic animals, and these consultations demand technical knowledge as well as careful clinical evaluation of patients. Because of the importance of this theme and the higher prevalence of snakebites caused by snakes of the genus Bothrops in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, this study aimed to address the epidemiological and clinical aspects of these accidents in dogs in the state, in addition to establishing their incidence. Clinical records of dogs, with a diagnosis of ophidian bothropic accident, assisted at the Toxicological Information Center of Rio Grande do Sul (CIT-RS) were revised from 2014 to 2016. These data were collected at the Toxicological Information Center, Statistics and Evaluation Center, State Secretary of Health. Data on the incidence of accidents and epidemiological and clinical information were obtained for each case. A total of 53 records were revised. In the records that included animal sex (n=49), 53% were female and 46.9% were male. As for animal age (n=47), the dogs ranged from one to 14 years, and most of them (46.9%) were in the 1-4-year age group. Over half of the cases occurred in the rural area (60.7%), and the head and neck were the main venom inoculation sites (76.3%). Diseases were characterized by clinical courses varying from hyperacute (<30 min to 6h), acute (6-24h), to subacute (4-5 days). Severe accidents accounted for 40% of the cases, with edema as the most frequent clinical sign (88.7%) followed by hemorrhagic manifestations (41.5%). Associations of epidemiological and clinical aspects coupled with history of exposure are important characteristics to assist with suspicion and definitive diagnosis of bothropic accidents in dogs.

Necrotic Wound Caused by Jararaca (Bothrops jararaca) in a Dog - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBTO)

“…The presence of pain at the site of snakebite referenced by the literature [13,17] was not identified in our patient. The decrease in PVC has been associated with the anticoagulant and/or hemorrhagic activity caused by the venom [6,17], and the leukopenia, neutropenia and lymphopenia was related with possible bone marrow exhaustion [7,11]. However, these parameters remained in the normal range after the 5 th HBOT session.…”

“…On the other hand, the hyperbaric chamber used in the present report was for veterinarian use, and no adaptations were needed. The dog of the present report was not treated with antivenom because of the nonexistence scientific evidence that antivenom neutralizes the venom effect in tissue [2,6,13,17].…”

“…Bothrops jararaca snakes are the main responsible for envenoming in dogs in Brazil and trigger complexes pathophysiological and inflammatory processes [6,13,17]. Bothropic venom has anticoagulant, proteolytic and vasculotoxic action, and the necrotic lesion can be identified in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, or bones [2,13].…”

“…The necrosis is encouraged by a metalloproteinase -jararhagin, which acts by degradation of sub-endothelial matrix proteins leading to the disruption of the blood vessel endothelium [2,6]. Systemic symptoms include weakness, anorexia, tachycardia and tachypnea, and hypovolemic shock [6,17]. HBOT involves the use of 100% oxygen under high pressure and is used to treat chronic wounds, radiotherapy wounds, necrotizing fasciitis, and burns, among others [1,7].…”

South American Rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus spp.) Envenomation in Dogs in the Semiarid Region of Brazil

“…Crotalic envenomation presents a small frequency in humans (8 to 20%) in comparison with reports of bothropic envenomation (80 to 90%) in Brazil [10]. Natural bothropic envenomation is also more frequent in dogs and cats [20,22,35], and in farm animals [19,23,38].…”