Abstract Snakebite envenoming is a major global health problem that kills or disables half a million people in the world’s poorest countries. Identifying the biting snake and its habitat use is key to understanding snakebite eco-epidemiology and optimizing its clinical management. To prevent and combat the neglected snakebite disease, we characterize the morphology, geographic distribution, habitat use, and snakebites of medically important venomous snakes in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Despite Philodryas spp. not being considered of medical importance by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, we also explore their data once the bites may require medical intervention, may cause death, and their consequences are underestimated. Methods: We assessed taxonomy and geographic data from specimens housed in scientific collections, the literature, and the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Our data revealed fragility in the morphological characters recommended to distinguish Bothrops jararaca from B. jararacussu, identify the subspecies of Crotalus durissus and distinguish the species of Philodryas. To help identify these species, we present an identification key to the venomous snake species from Rio de Janeiro based on the morphological data collected. We record the genera Bothrops and Micrurus in all mesoregions of the state. Here, we provide the first record of C. durissus in the Serrana region, supporting the hypothesis of geographic expansion of the species in the state. The crotalic antivenom must not be missing in Médio Paraíba, Centro-Sul Fluminense, and Serrana, where the rattlesnake C. durissus occurs. Bothrops bilineatus and Lachesis muta have historical records presented for the first time herein. However, these species are likely endangered or extinct in the state. There were 7,483 snakebites reported between 2001 and 2019, with an annual average of 393.8 cases. The Bothrops genus is responsible for the majority of accidents. The highest number of cases occurred in the Serrana region, the largest pole of family agriculture in Rio de Janeiro. We improve the identification of venomous snake species, better delimit their distribution, and update the number of cases of snakebites, thus providing greater precision in the attention to this problem in Rio de Janeiro. We emphasize the importance of clinical studies to test using bothropic-crotalic antivenom and heparin in all mesoregions to treat B. jararacussu envenomation; and mechanical ventilation, atropine, and anticholinesterases in the emergency health centers in the Metropolitana and Norte Fluminense regions due to the occurrence of the coral M. lemniscatus in these areas.

Resumo O envenenamento com serpentes de importância médica é um grande problema de saúde global que mata ou incapacita meio milhão de pessoas nos países mais pobres do mundo. A identificação de serpentes de importância médica e aspectos de sua história de vida é fundamental para compreender a eco-epidemiologia dos acidentes ofídicos e otimizar seu manejo clínico. Para prevenir e combater a doença negligenciada do ofidismo, caracterizamos os dados de morfologia, distribuição, uso de habitat e acidentes ofídicos das serpentes peçonhentas de importância médica no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Apesar de Philodryas spp. não serem consideradas de importância médica pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, também apresentamos seus dados porque suas picadas podem exigir intervenção médica, causar morte e suas consequências são subestimadas. Foram avaliados dados morfológicos e de habitat de espécimes pertencentes a coleções cientificas, literatura e dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Nossos dados revelaram caracteres morfológicos frágeis recomendados para distinguir Bothrops jararaca e B. jararacussu, para identificar as subespécies de cascavel Crotalus durissus e para distinguir as serpentes cipó Philodryas spp. Para auxiliar na identificação dessas espécies apresentamos uma chave de identificação para as mesmas com base nos dados morfológicos coletados. Registramos os gêneros Bothrops e Micrurus em todas as mesorregiões do estado. Já o soro anticrotálico não pode faltar no Médio Paraíba, Centro-Sul Fluminense e Serrana, onde encontramos a cascavel Crotalus durissus. Aqui estendemos o registro da cascavel pela primeira vez para a região Serrana, corroborando a hipótese da expansão da espécie no estado. Bothrops bilineatus e Lachesis muta possuem registros históricos aqui apresentados pela primeira vez. Essas espécies provavelmente estão ameaçadas ou extintas no estado. Foram 7,483 acidentes entre 2001-2019, com média anual de 393.8. O gênero Bothrops é responsável pela maioria dos acidentes. O maior número de casos ocorreu na região Serrana, maior polo da agricultura familiar do Rio de Janeiro. Aperfeiçoamos a identificação das espécies de serpentes de importância médica, delimitamos melhor sua distribuição e atualizamos os acidentes ofídicos, proporcionando maior precisão na atenção ao ofidismo no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Ressaltamos a importância de estudos clínicos para testar o uso de soro antibotrópico-crotálico e heparina em todas as mesorregiões para o tratamento do ofidismo B. jararacussu e ventilação mecânica, atropina e anticolinesterásicos nos prontos-socorros das regiões Metropolitana e Norte Fluminense pela ocorrência do coral M. lemniscatus.

El extracto crudo y la fracción orgánica de la esponja marina Cliona delitrix, recolectada en San Andrés Islas (Caribe Colombiano), muestra actividad antifouling en ensayos de campo. La fracción orgánica es separada por cromatografía en columna logrando obtener fracciones enriquecidas en glicéridos, glicolípidos, fosfolípidos, ácidos grasos libres, ésteres metílicos y monohidroxiesteroles. Cada una de las fracciones es identificada de manera preliminar por TLC y técnicas de dereplicación (RMN). Los ácidos grasos obtenidos de la hidrólisis de cada una de las fracciones de glicéridos, glicolípidos y fosfolípidos son transformados en sus correspondientes ésteres metílicos, los cuales son analizados por CGAREM; luego se convierten en sus derivados pirrolidínicos y también se analizan por CG-EM. El estudio cuidadoso de los EM, tanto del éster metílico como de las pirrolidina, y los valores de ECL permiten identificar 89 ácidos grasos diferentes. Entre éstos se destacan: el ácido 7,10,12,14-icosatetraenoico, que se reporta por primera vez, y los ácidos 5,9-hexacosadienoico y hexadecanoico, por ser los más abundantes en todas las fracciones. Adicionalmente se identifican, mediante análisis de CG-EM y ¹H-RMN, 19 monohidroxiesteroles. Se destacan el colestanol y el clionasterol, por ser los más abundantes, y también es de notar la presencia de estanoles (cerca del 30%) que no se habían informado antes para este género.

In a field test for antifouling activity the raw extract and the organic fraction obtained from the marine sponge Cliona delitrix, collected at the San Andrés Islas (Colombia, Caribbean Sea), showed activity. The organic fraction was separated by column chromatography to obtain enriched fractions of glycerides, glycolipids, phospholipids, free fatty acids, fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) and monohydroxysterols identified by TLC and dereplication techniques (NMR). The glyceride, glycolipid, and phospholipid fractions were hydrolyzed, and the fatty acids methyl esters obtained, together with the initial fatty acids fraction were converted into their methyl esters and analyzed by HRGC-MS. In order to locate unsaturations and alkyl branches in fatty acids, their methyl esters derivates were transformed to the corresponding pyrrolidides and subsequently analyzed by HRGC-MS. The identification of the fatty acids was carried out using their ECL value as methyl esters, and particularly the study of their pyrrolidide spectra was used to locate unsaturations and alkyl branch positions. The analysis allowed the identification of 89 fatty acids. The main acids include the new 7,10,12,14-icosatetraenoic acid, as well as 5,9-hexacosadienoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. Additionally, 19 monohydroxysterols were identified by HRGC-MS and NMR ¹H. Cholestanol and clionasterol were the most abundant compounds and the stanols presence (near to 30%) was not previously reported for this genus.

Un equino macho, entero, criollo colombiano de siete años de edad, fue remitido a la clínica de grandes animales del centro de veterinaria y zootecnia CES debido a síndrome abdominal agudo. Al ser evaluado clínicamente presentó depresión, ruidos abdominales disminuidos, deshidratación (6%), frecuencia cardiaca y respiratoria en 40 lpm y 28 rpm, respectivamente, temperatura en 37.1 °C y distensión marcada de intestino delgado evidente mediante palpación rectal y ultrasonografía transabdominal. No hubo respuesta a los analgésicos por parte del equino; los parámetros en líquido peritoneal estuvieron alterados. Se sospechó lesión estrangulante en intestino delgado. La laparotomía exploratoria reveló infarto idiopático de siete metros de yeyuno y la porción proximal del íleon. Fue practicada una yeyunocecostomía latero lateral con grapadora quirúrgica mecánica (GIA 80). El animal permaneció hospitalizado 10 días y la recuperación postquirúrgica fue exitosa. Este caso es el primer reporte en el país de esta cirugía.

A 7- years-old criollo colombiano stallion was referred to the Large Animal Hospital Centro de Veterinaria y Zootecnia CES (Envigado, Colombia) because of an acute abdominal syndrome that had persisted for seven hours despite medical treatment. On physical examination the stallion was depressed, dehydrated (6%), borborygmi were diminished, rectal temperature was 37.1 °C, hearth and respiration rates were 40 beats/min and 28 breaths/min, respectively. On rectal examination and abdominal ultrasonography small intestine was distended. Peritoneal fluid analysis was altered. Signs of pain were nonresponsive to analgesics. The diagnosis by exploratory laparotomy was infarction of small intestine (seven meters of the jejunum and proximal portion of the ileum) of unknown etiology. A jejunocecostomy was done using a GIA 80 surgical stapler (United Surgical). Postsurgical recuperation was successful. This case becomes the first report of a jejunocecostomy in a horse in Colombia

Background: The non invasive diagnosis of amebic liver abscess allows the use of empirical therapy without the requirement of invasive diagnostic procedures. Aim: To determine the discriminatory capacity of clinical, laboratory and ultrasound studies for the etiological diagnosis of liver abscess. Patients and methods: Sixty one patients were initially included in this prospective study, but 12 did not comply with the inclusion criteria. Of the rest, 29 (59%) had an amebic liver abscess, 16 (33%) had a pyogenic liver abscess and four (8%) had an abscess of mixed etiology. Blood cultures were done in 42 patients. Ultrasound guided needle aspiration was done in 7 patients with amebic liver abscess and 13 patients with non amebic liver abscess. Results: The clinical picture and ultrasound fndings were similar in all types of amebic abscess. ELISA test for IgG anti-Entamoeba histolytica antibodies were positive in 100% of patients with amebic liver abscess. Antibodies measured by gel diffusion were positive in 93%. All patients with mixed liver abscess had positive antibodies and some of them positive culture. Blood cultures were positive for anaerobic bacteria in five patients. Cultures of aspirated material were positive in 7 patients (obligate anaerobic bacteria in 3 and facultative anaerobic bacteria in the rest). The most common complications, whatever the etiology, were right pleural effusion and systemic inflammatory response. Conclusions: A final model of binomial regression analysis revealed that age under 40 years, an hematocrit greater than 35% and an elevation in prothrombin time of less than 1.5 seconds had enough discriminatory capacity for the diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1411-20).

We demonstrate here that acute third ventricle injections of GR 113808, a highly selective 5-HT4 antagonist, decrease water intake induced by a previous salt load while potentiating drinking elicited by hypovolemia induced by previous subcutaneous administration of polyethylene glycol in male Wistar rats (200 ± 20 g). At the dose of 160 nmol/rat, third ventricle injections of GR 113808 induced a significant reduction of water intake in salt-loaded animals after 120 min as compared to salt-loaded animals receiving third ventricle injections of saline (salt load + GR = 3.44 ± 0.41 ml, N = 12; salt load + saline = 5.74 ± 0.40 ml, N = 9). At the dose of 80 nmol/rat, GR 113808 significantly enhanced water intake in hypovolemic animals after 120 min as compared to hypovolemic animals receiving third ventricle injections of saline (hypovol + GR = 4.01 ± 0.27 ml, N = 8; hypovol + saline = 2.41 ± 0.23 ml, N = 12). We suggest that central 5-HT4 receptors may exert a positive drive on water intake due to hyperosmolarity and a negative input on drinking provoked by hypovolemia.