Resumen

BORGES, A et al. Caracterización Epidemiológica y Toxicológica del Envenenamiento por Tityus Zulianus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) en el Estado Mérida, Venezuela. RFM [online]. 2002, vol.25, n.1, pp.76-79. ISSN 0798-0469.

Envenomation by Tityus scorpions in Mérida State, western Venezuela, often produces respiratory distress and death in children under 8 years of age. Treatment usually requires large doses of the heterologous, anti-Tityus discrepans serum. To dissect the problem geographically, the records of scorpion sting cases held at the Epidemiology Division, Mérida Health Commission, were searched on a per sanitary district basis. The search revealed an increase in the total number of cases during 1992-98 and that the problem is restricted to El Vigía and Tovar sanitary districts, in or around villages located in the rain forest area south of Lake Maracaibo. The most abundant scorpion species was Tityus zulianus, which distribution area is hereby extended. No significant difference was found between the lethal dose in mice for T. zulianus venom from Tucaní (El Vigía district, 1.68 mg/kg) versus T. zulianus from Mesa Bolívar (Tovar district, 1.61 mg/kg) although quantitative and/or qualitative differences in composition cannot be dismissed, which could be responsible for the differences in the clinical outcome of cases from both districts.

Palabras clave : Scorpionism; Tityus; Mérida; Lethal dose.