Injuries and envenoming by aquatic animals in fishermen of Coxim and Corumbá municipalities, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: identification of the causative agents, clinical aspects and first aid measures

Abstract

Introduction: The fishes of continental Brazil have socioeconomic importance due to their potential for sport fishing and commercial and subsistence uses, as seen in the Upper Paraguay River Basin, particularly in the municipalities of the Pantanal region, where it is the second largest economic activity. Injuries caused in professional fishermen are common and poorly studied, as in other regions of the country. Methods: Data were obtained from questionnaires and interviews with 100 professional fishermen, 50 in each municipality, between December 2008 and October 2009. Results: All the fishermen reported some kind of injury caused by fish stings (78% of injuries) and fish, alligator and snake bites (22%) on the hands (46% of cases) and feet (35% of cases). Most of the patients had mild symptoms. The most severe cases were associated with secondary bacterial infections and required specific treatment and prolonged recovery associated with social and economic losses. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the stressful work conditions, inattention to basic preventive measures and carelessness were factors that contributed to accidents and that the toxicity and ability to inflict mechanical trauma of some aquatic species, plus the ineffective use of first aid and hospital treatment, contributed to the high morbidity and complications in many cases. Data from this study are relevant to the fishing communities of the Pantanal region, since they reveal high rates of accidents, lack of knowledge concerning first aid, initial treatment, injury prevention and lack of medical follow-up of the population.

Injuries caused by the venomous catfish pintado and cachara (Pseudoplatystoma genus) in fishermen of the Pantanal region in Brazil

“…We also recorded to application of hot water compresses. The use of hot compresses is considered an effective treatment for the pain caused by vasoconstriction induced by the venom of Siluriformes such as the yellow catfish, since the hot water causes vasodilatation and consequent transient relief (Haddad Jr 2003, 2008, Haddad Jr and Lastoria 2005, Haddad Jr and Martins 2006, Silva 2009, Silva et al 2010.…”

“…According to anterior studies injuries in professionals fishermen in freshwater environments in Brazil are common (Haddad Jr 2003, Haddad Jr and Lastoria 2005, GIULIaNO N.R. DE aqUINO, CELSO C. DE SOUza, VIDaL HaDDaD JUNIOR and JOSé SABINO Haddad Jr and Martins 2006, Silva 2009, Silva et al 2010.…”

“…As an example, the Siluriformes (a group of freshwater catfish) have hard and serrated stingers in the pectoral and dorsal fins that cause perforating or lacerated wounds and sometimes possess venom (Haddad Jr 2003, 2008, Haddad Jr and Lastoria 2005, Haddad Jr and Martins 2006, Silva 2009, Silva et al 2010. The venoms of various species of Siluriforms have action analogous to massive liberations of prostaglandins and acetylcholine and can cause severe pain, skin necrosis and ischemia in the compromised area (Williamson 1995, Junqueira 2006.…”

“…Other larger catfish as the Pseudoplatystoma genus (surubins) have large and sharp stingers which can carry toxins causing pain and necrosis (Haddad Jr 2008). In a previous study, a percentage of 24% of professional fishermen of the Pantanal region cited anterior injuries by stingers of Pseudoplatystoma (Silva 2009, Silva et al 2010.…”

Avaliação da citotoxicidade do extrato do ferrão de arraia Potamotrygon falkneri (Myliobatiformes:Potamotrygonidae)

“…As arraias, com algumas exceções, possuem 1 ou 2 ferrões, cuja substituição é um fenômeno periódico (CARAS, 1974;THORSON et al, 1988 Potamotrygon são mais frequentemente envolvidas nesses casos devido à localização do ferrão na região média-distal da cauda, aparentemente facilitando o acidente (GARRONE NETO et al, 2005;SILVA et al, 2010).…”