Citation

Borges A, Rojas-Runjaic FJM. Toxicon 2007; 50(7): 1005-1010.

Affiliation

Laboratorio de Toxinas Animales, Centro de Biociencias y Medicina Molecular, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Venezuela. borges.adolfo@gmail.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.07.019

PMID

17868753

Abstract

An extensive field survey allowed us to expand the geographical distribution of the scorpion Tityus perijanensis in the Perijá range, western Zulia State, Venezuela, including areas where adult cases of severe scorpionism have been reported. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, DL(50) determination, and native PAGE suggest low genetic and venom proteomic divergence across the distribution range. The results also indicate phylogenetic divergence between T. perijanensis and T. discrepans, the species prevalent in northcentral Venezuela. T. perijanensis venom lethality (0.91-0.94 mg/kg) is comparable to that of the Brazilian T. serrulatus and ranks highest among toxic Venezuelan Tityus studied so far. The data indicate that the Perijá range should be included amongst the endemic areas of scorpionism of Venezuela and Colombia.

Language: en