Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
05:27
Captive Maintenance and Venom Extraction of Tityus serrulatus (Brazilian Yellow Scorpion) for Antivenom Production
Published on: October 6, 2023
Venomous snakebites in southern Croatia
Boris Luksić1, Nikola Bradarić, Sandra Prgomet
1Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Split, Split, Croatia. boris.luksic1@st.htnet.hr
Collegium Antropologicum
|April 19, 2006
Summary
Southern Croatia experiences an average of 5.2 snakebites per 100,000 people annually, primarily from the nose-horned viper. Most victims were older adults or children, with bites occurring in spring/summer, often on upper limbs.
Area of Science:
- * Clinical Toxicology
- * Epidemiology
- * Herpetology
Background:
- * Snakebite envenomation remains a significant public health concern globally, particularly in regions with venomous snake populations.
- * Understanding regional epidemiological patterns is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To determine the incidence of venomous snakebite in southern Croatia.
- * To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of snakebite cases.
- * To evaluate treatment protocols and outcomes in the region.
Main Methods:
- * Retrospective analysis of 542 snakebite envenomation cases treated at University Hospital Split over 21 years.
- * Data collection included patient demographics, snake species, bite location, envenomation severity, and treatment administered.
Main Results:
- * Mean annual snakebite incidence was 5.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
- * Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) was the most common cause of bites.
- * Victims included all age groups, with higher frequency in those over 50 and under 19; bites occurred most in May, often on upper limbs.
- * Envenomation severity ranged from minor (15.1%) to severe (18%), with a mortality rate of 0.4%.
- * Antivenom was widely administered, with rare complications, though often used more than indicated by symptoms.
Conclusions:
- * Snakebite envenomation in southern Croatia is characterized by a specific incidence rate and common snake species.
- * Demographic and seasonal patterns highlight at-risk populations and periods.
- * Current treatment, including antivenom use, appears effective with low mortality, though judicious application is suggested.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Rabies
Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae. Its primary mode of transmission to humans is through bites or saliva-contaminated scratches from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. Transmission can also occur if infectious saliva contacts abraded skin or intact mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva.Viral Entry and Early ReplicationOnce introduced at the bite or scratch...
01:26Anticholinesterase Agents: Poisoning and Treatment
Anticholinesterases, also known as cholinesterase inhibitors, work by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, leading to its accumulation in the synaptic cleft. This accumulation indirectly enhances both muscarinic and nicotinic actions. These agents are classified as reversible or irreversible based on their mechanism of action.
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
Irreversible agents form a strong bond with the cholinesterase enzyme, making it inactive. The breakdown of the phosphorylated enzyme is slower than the...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:10Veins as Blood Reservoirs
Veins, while chiefly responsible for circulating blood back to the heart, also function as storage vessels for blood. They house approximately 64 percent of the body's total blood volume, a feat made possible by their high capacitance—the inherent ability to expand and accommodate large volumes of blood, even under low pressure. The large diameter and thin walls of veins augment their distensibility, significantly more so than arteries, due to their classification as capacitance vessels. When...
01:17Veins of Upper Limbs
The human circulatory system, a marvel of biological engineering, is a complex network of vessels that transport blood throughout the body. Among these, the veins responsible for carrying blood from the upper limbs are divided into two categories: deep and superficial.
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...
The deep venous system is primarily composed of the ulnar and radial veins. The ulnar vein, which drains the fingers through the superficial palmar venous arches, and the radial vein, which serves the palms via the deep palmar...