Rattlesnakes bites in the Brazilian Amazon: Clinical epidemiology, spatial distribution and ecological determinants

• Published in: Acta tropica 2019-03, Vol.191, p.69-76
• Main Authors: Loren Rebouças Santos, Hildegard, Diego de Brito Sousa, José, Arthur Alcântara, João, de Almeida Gonçalves Sachett, Jacqueline, Soares Villas Boas, Thiago, Saraiva, Ivan, Sergio Bernarde, Paulo, Freire Valente Magalhães, Samara, Cardoso de Melo, Gisely, Maia Peixoto, Henry, Regina Oliveira, Maria, Sampaio, Vanderson, Marcelo Monteiro, Wuelton
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accident; Ecological; Epidemiology; Snakebite; Spatial distribution
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.12.030

•We describe cases of envenoming by Crotalus bites in the Brazilian Amazon.•A total of 70,816 snakebites were recorded in the Amazon Region.•Rattlesnake bites incidence was positively associated to tree canopy loss and altitude.•The distribution was irregular between the municipalities in the Amazon State. Crotalus bites are considered a public health problem especially in Latin America. This study was performed to describe the epidemiology, spatial distribution and environmental determinants of Crotalus durissus bites in the Brazilian Amazon. Crotalus durissus envenomings official database included cases reported from 2010 to 2015. A total of 70,816 snakebites were recorded in the Amazon Region, 3058 (4.3%) cases being classified as crotalid, with a mean incidence rate of 11.1/100,000 inhabitants/year. The highest mean incidence rates were reported in Roraima, Tocantins and Maranhão. Area covered by water bodies, precipitation and soil humidity were negatively associated to rattlesnake encountering. Rattlesnake bites incidence was positively associated to tree canopy loss and altitude. In the Amazon, severe manifestations at admission, delayed medical assistance, lack of antivenom administration and ages ≥61 and 0–15 years were predictors of death in C. durissus snakebites. Spatial distribution of rattlesnake bites across the Brazilian Amazon showed higher incidence in areas of transition from the equatorial forest to the savanna, and in the savanna itself. Such results may aid focused policy-making in order to mitigate the burden, clinical complications and death as well as to manage Crotalus rattlesnake populations in the Brazilian Amazon.