A case of envenomation caused by Oxybelis fulgidus (Serpentes, Colubridae) in Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Abstract A case of a bite inflicted by Oxybelis fulgidus in the wilds of Amazon is reported. The patient was a 67-year-old man who presented with dizziness, tachycardia and local pain, with erythema and bleeding in his left arm. The venom of Oxybelis fulgidus, a neotropical rear-fanged snake, contains one of the four three-finger toxins already isolated from colubrid snakes, called fulgimotoxin. He was treated with oral analgesics and returned to the ambulatory in 48 hours, with good evolution. We report tirst authenticated case of adult Oxybelis fulgidus with signs of mild local envenoming without evidence of systemic envenoming.

Keywords

• Snakebite
• Colubridae
• Oxibelis fulgidus