Bothrops Snakebites in Dogs

Abstract

Background: Snakebites occur frequently among humans and animals. In Brazil, about 23,000 cases of snakebite involving humans were recorded in 2016, 11% of them caused by venomous snakes. In the region of Cuiabá, capital of Mato Grosso, the highest occurrence is of snakes of the genus Bothrops (81%), followed by Crotalus (4%). Bothrops venom has proteolytic, coagulant, and hemorrhagic effects, whereas Crotalus venom is neurotoxic, myotoxic and nephrotoxic. This paper reports on three cases of Bothrops snakebites in dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso in 2017. Cases: Three dogs were treated showing clinical signs of snakebite, possibly by Bothrops, since their owners reported that these are the snakes most frequently found where they live. This information is consistent with the known geographic distribution of snakes of the genus Bothrops in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In the first report (Case 1 1 ), the patient was bitten on two different occasions in a five-month interval, and died presumably due to anaphylactic shock caused by the venom injected by a second snakebite (Case 1 2 ). In both episodes, the animal presented a swollen face and neck, dyspnea and eye bleeding, and these signs were more severe in the second episode. Case 2 was a dog with severe neck and chest swelling and pain. The owner of this dog reported that he had taken his dog for a walk in the countryside, along with the dog of Case 1, and had returned home with both dogs about three hours before the consultation. Case 3 was a Rottweiler living at a small family farm located 67 km from Cuiabá. The animal presented slight swelling and pain in the left forelimb, and puncture wounds on the lower limb. Neutrophilic leukocytosis was observed in cases 1 and 3. In addition, Case 1 2 (the second episode of Case 1) presented thrombocytopenia and increased prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time. The dog of Case 2 presented no hematological or biochemical alteration. All the dogs received antivenom serum and supportive care. Discussion: Based on the clinical signs of local swelling with bleeding and absence of neurological signs, the snakebites were attributed to the genus Bothrops. In Case 1 2 , blood clotting tests showed non-coagulation. The greater severity of Case 1, which culminated in death, was attributed to anaphylaxis due to prior exposure or the larger amount of venom than that injected in Case 2, since the two injuries were inflicted in the same environment, on the same day, probably by the same snake. Neutrophilic leukocytosis may be indicative of an inflammatory reaction, while thrombocytopenia and clotting changes are associated with the hemorrhagic activity of Bothrops venom. Death by snakebite is directly linked to the amount of venom injected, the envenomation site, and the time between the bite and the beginning of treatment. This explains the moderate signs presented by Cases 2 and 3, whose injuries were inflicted on the neck and forelimb, unlike the dog of Case 1, ...

Acidente botrópico em cão na região Noroeste do Espírito Santo

“…Os principais sinais clínicos relacionados às picadas de serpentes do gênero Bothrops são dor, necrose local, defeitos na hemostasia, alterações hemodinâmicas, podendo evoluir para insuficiência renal aguda e choque (LIMA et al, 2019). A gravidade da evolução do quadro clínico do animal é diretamente proporcional ao tempo decorrido desde a picada ao início do tratamento (CINTRA et al, 2014).…”

“…Os acidentes botrópicos podem apresentar-se laboratorialmente por meio de anemias, causadas pelo sangramento intenso, leucocitose por neutrofilia devido a possíveis infecções secundárias (LIMA et al, 2019). A peçonha dessa serpente pode causar consumo do fibrinogênio, o que pode ser responsável pela redução das concentrações de proteína plasmática total (NUNES; COELHO; DALMOLIN, 2013).…”

“…A peçonha dessa serpente pode causar consumo do fibrinogênio, o que pode ser responsável pela redução das concentrações de proteína plasmática total (NUNES; COELHO; DALMOLIN, 2013). Na bioquímica sérica é importante avaliar a função renal e hepática, visto que a peçonha tem ação direta nesses sistemas, podendo levar a alterações das enzimas como a diminuição da albumina, aumento da ureia, creatinina e fosfatase alcalina (CINTRA et al, 2014;LIMA et al, 2019). Todas essas alterações foram visualizadas no presente relato.…”

“…É recomendado, também, a administração de antibióticos de amplo espectro para tratamento de infecções bacterianas secundárias (MACHADO et al, 2022). O uso da dexametasona é feito para a prevenção de um possível choque anafilático, além de auxiliar na redução de edema local e das vias respiratórias (LIMA et al, 2019).…”

“…Por fim, vale ressaltar, que as estatísticas de acidentes ofídicos em animais domésticos não representam de forma fidedigna a realidade, uma vez que, na medicina veterinária, a notificação dos acidentes ofídicos não é obrigatória, estando dependente dos relatos dos médicos veterinários para determinar uma estimativa (LIMA et al, 2019).…”