Dangerous scorpion fauna of Mali

Although the main Malian scorpion species of medical interest, Androctonus amoreuxi, is responsible for severe envenomings and perhaps some deaths, it has hitherto been considered not dangerous for humans. This population is located in the Saharian North-Eastern regions of Mali where it is accompani...

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Published inThe journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 361 - 368
Main Authors Goyffon, M, Dabo, A, Coulibaly, SK, Togo, G, Chippaux, JP
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Portuguese
Published Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos 2012
SciELO
Subjects
Androctonus sp
antivenom
dangerous species
Mali
scorpions
TOXICOLOGY
TROPICAL MEDICINE
dangerous species
scorpions
Mali
Androctonus sp
antivenom
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Summary:Although the main Malian scorpion species of medical interest, Androctonus amoreuxi, is responsible for severe envenomings and perhaps some deaths, it has hitherto been considered not dangerous for humans. This population is located in the Saharian North-Eastern regions of Mali where it is accompanied by Leiurus quinquestriatus, a well known dangerous species of the Sahara. In the Gao district, divided by the Niger River, less desolate than the Tessalit and Kidal regions, one specimen of the dangerous species Androctonus australis was found. To summarize, Mali harbors at least three dangerous scorpion species: Leiurus quinquestriatus, Androctonus amoreuxi and A. australis, the latter recently having been identified in Mali for the first time. The absence of Androctonus aeneas is surprising in this context because it is found in neighboring countries (Algeria, Niger) and should be detected by new surveys. The possibility of preparing a single scorpion antivenom intended for Saharian and sub-Saharian populations is discussed.
ISSN:1678-9199
1678-9199
DOI:10.1590/S1678-91992012000400003