Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Vidal Haddad Jr, Hamilton Ometto Stolf, José Yamin Risk, Francisco OS França, João Luiz Costa Cardoso
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2015
• Subjects: Pterois volitans; Pterois miles; Venomous fish; Animals invasions; Aquarism; Lionfish; Envenomations; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic; Pacific
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40409-015-0007-x; https://doaj.org/article/fc1ee87f5ad544d2972f35794b7eab6f

AbstractLionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (1997–2014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations.