Extractivism of palm tree fruits: A risky activity because of snakebites in the state of Acre, Western Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION: We present here the risk from snakebites because of palm extractivism in western Amazonia. METHODS: The data were extracted from a cross-sectional sample study, from January 2016 to April 2018, at the Juruá Regional Hospital of Cruzeiro do Sul (Acre). RESULTS: There were 14 Bothrops incidents involving males, most of them occurring during the harvesting of “açaí” (Euterpe precatoria). CONCLUSIONS: During the harvesting of “açaí,” there is the risk of the presence of B. atrox on the ground near the palm tree, and of B. bilineatus at the top of the palm tree.

Keywords

• Snakebite
• Bothrops
• Occupational hazard
• Epidemiology