Analysis of the geographic variation (insular and continental region) of the venom of the genus Bothrops of greatest medical importance in the Brazilian North region: a public health and environmental education issue

• Grant number: 22/13137-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Agreement: CONFAP - National Council of State Research Support Foundations
• Principal Investigator: Kathleen Fernandes Grego
• Grantee: Kathleen Fernandes Grego
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Anita Mitico Tanaka-Azevedo ; Aparecida Sadae Tanaka ; Caroline Serino Silva

Abstract

Ophidian accidents are an important health issue, being responsible for more than 20,000 accidents occurring annually in Brazil. Most accidents recorded in the country involve snakes of the Bothrops genus (86%). In the northern region of the country, 38% of snakebites occur, with Pará being the most affected state. It is suspected that B. atrox is the species responsible for the majority of these accidents. On the Island of Marajó-PA there are snakes of the species B. marajoensis, although very little is known about this species. Most venomous snakes in Pará do not participate in the venom pool for the production of antivenoms, and their venom characterization is of fundamental importance to understand the effects caused by them, as it is already known that venoms are subject to intraspecific variations that may be related to several factors and may cause different responses to antivenom treatment. Another aggravating factor, responsible for the high number of cases in this region, is the population's negative perception of snakes, which leads to a commitment to the conservation of these animals in nature. In this sense, the study of local snakes' venoms is of great importance in order to understand their biological, evolutionary and clinical aspects, besides investing in the awareness of local communities regarding the importance of these animals in the ecosystem. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to characterize the biochemical and biological aspects of the snakes' venoms of the genus Bothrops (insular and continental region) of the state of Pará, and, additionally, promote environmental education, recognition of venomous snakes and prevention of snakebites with the rural and urban area population most affected by snakebites. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

KOPEL, BEATRIZ; SERINO-SILVA, CAROLINE; JANTSCH, REBECA BARCELOS; SORILA, IGOR CASTELLAR; SANT'ANNA, SAVIO S.; GREGO, KATHLEEN FERNANDES; TANAKA-AZEVEDO, ANITA MITICO. Analysis of Naja kaouthia snake venom composition and in-vitro enzymatic activities of 29 specimens in captivity: Highlighting the importance of individual variation in venom pool production. Toxicon, v. 252, p. 9-pg., 2024-12-01. (21/11707-4, 24/02642-4, 22/13137-3, 22/13820-5, 21/05405-5)

DE LIMA, EDUARDO OLIVEIRA VENANCIO; TASIMA, LIDIA JORGE; GREGO, KATHLEEN FERNANDES; TANAKA-AZEVEDO, ANITA MITICO. Fibrinogenolytic potential of venoms of medically important Brazilian snakes. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY, v. 287, p. 5-pg., 2024-09-05. (22/15660-5, 21/11707-4, 21/04287-9, 22/13137-3, 23/14327-3)