Venomous and Poisonous Australian Animals of Veterinary Importance: A Rich Source of Novel Therapeutics

Abstract

Envenomation and poisoning by terrestrial animals (both vertebrate and invertebrate) are a significant economic problem and health risk for domestic animals in Australia. Australian snakes are some of the most venomous animals in the world and bees, wasps, ants, paralysis ticks, and cane toads are also present as part of the venomous and poisonous fauna. The diagnosis and treatment of envenomation or poisoning in animals is a challenge and can be a traumatic and expensive process for owners. Despite the potency of Australian venoms, there is potential for novel veterinary therapeutics to be modeled on venom toxins, as has been the case with human pharmaceuticals. A comprehensive overview of envenomation and poisoning signs in livestock and companion animals is provided and related to the potential for venom toxins to act as therapeutics.

Acidentes com animais peçonhentos em uma comunidade rural de Mato Grosso

“…A facilidade de locomoção desses insetos e sua ubiquidade, colonizando árvores, forros de residências para se abrigar, elevam as chances de contato com humanos, em relação as arraias um grande problema é a inexistência de um tratamento específico e falta de informação tanto para a população de modo geral quanto para os próprios profissionais de saúde que raramente recebem treinamentos relacionados aos cuidados em acidentes com este tipo de animal. 17,18 Com relação à região do corpo em que sofreram a picada, sinalizaram primeiramente para os pés e depois às pernas, como área mais comum dos acidentes. Observação semelhante a outros estudos brasileiros que apontam estas regiões anatômicas como as mais envolvidas em acidentes com animais peçonhentos.…”

“…Observação semelhante a outros estudos brasileiros que apontam estas regiões anatômicas como as mais envolvidas em acidentes com animais peçonhentos. [18][19][20] Atentos a tal informação os palestrantes trouxeram informações sobre a importância da utilização dos EPIs durante o trabalho no campo ou em regiões de risco, prezando a proteção dos pés e pernas com botas de material resistente e o uso de luvas de borracha durante atividade em locais onde podem estar presentes animais peçonhentos.…”

Rickettsia australis and Queensland Tick Typhus: A Rickettsial Spotted Fever Group Infection in Australia

“…18,20 The first focus of Ixodes ticks infected with R. australis were identified in Canungra, Queensland, after soldiers training in bushland became ill with acute fever and rash. 16,21,22 The main distribution of the I. holocyclus tick is within 20 km of the coast 18,23 but it has been isolated in areas more than 100-km inland including the Bunya Mountains, Barcaldine, and Thargomindah in Queensland and the Lower Blue Mountains in New South Wales. These areas could be future sites of emerging infection 2,18 (Figure 1), although it is unknown whether these ticks harbor SFG Rickettsia.…”

“…These areas could be future sites of emerging infection 2,18 (Figure 1), although it is unknown whether these ticks harbor SFG Rickettsia. 20,23 Ixodes holocyclus is not known to be distributed north of Cooktown, Queensland, 23 yet a case of QTT has been documented in the Torres Strait. 4 This observation requires explanation as Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait islands are suitable environments for this tick species.…”

Antimicrobial Activity of Purified Toxins from Yellow Wasp <i>Polistes flavus</i> (Vespidae) against Certain Bacteria and Fungi

“…It serves both as defensive substances against aggressors as well as weapon used to paralyze the victim during gaining food. After sensing little disturbance in the territory, wasps make lethal attack in large numbers and they inflict venom into the body of mammals mainly man and his pets [1]. Wasps react and respond very fast to make an attack on predators and mammals.…”