Scorpionism and Dangerous Scorpions in Central America and the Caribbean Region

Abstract

This chapter assesses scorpionism and noxious scorpions in Central America and the Caribbean area, scarcely surveyed previously despite the presence of potentially dangerous scorpions of the genera Centruroides and Tityus, family Buthidae. In Central America, most scorpion stings in Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama are caused by Centruroides spp. which are mildly toxic to humans, including C. edwardsii, C. granosus, and C. gracilis, with the highest regional morbidity corresponding to Panama. Lethal Tityus species from Panama are T.

A checklist of the scorpions of Ecuador (Arachnida: Scorpiones), with notes on the distribution and medical significance of some species

“…This genus contains three species in Ecuador. Venom from Centruroides margaritatus Gervais, the most common scorpion in the coastal region of Ecuador, is richer in toxins active against potassium channels and also antimicrobial peptides in comparison with the higher content of sodium channel-active toxins typically found in venoms of toxic Centruroides species inhabiting Mexico and the southern United States [ 46 , 47 ], explaining the lower toxicity of C. margaritatus to vertebrates. Centruroides exsul (Meise, 1933:27).…”

“…Tityus is unquestionably the most complex genus of scorpions from a taxonomical standpoint (over 200 described species), accountable for the majority of severe and lethal scorpionism cases in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including Ecuador, due to the high lethality of their venoms towards vertebrates (intraperitoneal LD50 for mice ranging from 0.7 to 12 mg/kg) [ 22 , 47 , 55 – 57 ]. The genus has been divided into the subgenera Archaeotityus Lourenço , Atreus Gervais, Brazilotityus Lourenço, and Tityus Koch to accommodate taxa previously assigned to the morphological groups “ androcottoides ,” “ asthenes ,” “ bahiensis ,” “ bolivianus ,” “ clathratus ,” “ crassimanus,” “forcipula,” “melanostictus” and “quisqueyanus” [ 58 ].…”

“…T. ( A. ) asthenes has been found from Peru to Panama, having produced severe envenoming cases and fatalities in Colombia [ 64 ] and Panama [ 47 , 65 ]. T. ( A. )…”

“…such as Tityus ( Atreus ) fuhrmanni Kraepelin, Tityus ( Atreus ) metuendus Pocock, Tityus ( Atreus ) pachyurus Pocock, Tityus ( Atreus ) macrochirus Pocock, and Tityus ( Atreus ) festae Borelli, all [with the exception of T. ( A. ) macrochirus ] known to be responsible for high morbidity and pediatric mortality across their distribution range in Panama, Colombia, and Peru [ 22 , 47 , 56 ]. The epidemiological status of the Ecuadorian species in the “ Tityus forcipula ” group has not yet been determined.…”

“…timendus has been placed in the “ Tityus asthenes ” species complex in the subgeneus Atreus , but has also been cited as an allied species of T. ( A. ) pachyurus [ 77 ], which is responsible for severe envenomings in Colombia and Panama [ 47 , 78 ]. Tityus ( Atreus ) ythieri Lourenço, 2007:377–380.…”