Scorpionic serum therapy in pregnancy and its effects on the offspring

• Grant number: 18/11965-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal researcher: Ana Leonor Abrahao Nencioni Soares
• Grantee: Guilherme Gonelli Paz
• Home Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The scorpionic poisoning is a public health problem, due to the high number of cases registered not only in Brazil but also in the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. It is known that the poisoning by scorpions can cause problems ranging from simple local manifestations, such as small edema, to serious problems, such as cardiocirculatory complications, which may lead the individual to death. In the event of poisoning of women in the gestation period, there are risks for both the mother and the fetus, causing the death of both in extreme cases. In previous studies we observed that, when the venom of the scorpion Tityus bahiensis is administered in rats during pregnancy or lactation, changes occur in the physical development, reflexological and behavioral deficits in offspring, both in perinatal phase as in adulthood, as well as alterations in the levels of certain cytokines and neurotransmitters. The antivenom is the most appropriate method for the treatment of scorpionic poisoning. However, there are few studies in relation to the effects that the antivenom can cause on the fetus, beneficial or not. Therefore, this project has as objective the study and elucidation of the effects of perinatal scorpionic serum therapy, checking if there are any physiological changes in the fetus, as well as if there is a reversal of the changes caused by the poisoning of their mothers.