Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes – Potamotrygoninae): biology, general features and envenomation

Abstract

Neotropical stingrays have stingers at the base of the tail, which are used in self-defense and are covered with an epithelium containing mucous and venom glands. The stingray then sinks its stinger into the victim, causing an extremely painful wound, which can result in tissue necrosis. Medical treatment is based on the use of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, as to date there is no specific antidote for this type of envenomation. Public health authorities should therefore plan measures aimed at the treatment and epidemiologic reporting of stingray envenomation so as to encourage, and provide a basis for, the relevant organs to implement measures to raise environmental awareness, train health professionals to treat victims of envenomation and undertake studies to produce specific serum therapies.

Keywords:

• Potamotrygonids
• potamotrygon
• venom
• stinger
• envenomation

Acknowledgements

This article is part of a doctoral thesis presented by JLVL for the Multi-Institutional Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology at the Federal University of Amazonas. JLVL is a recipient of a doctoral fellowship from CAPES. MCS is the recipient of a CNPq productivity fellowship (ref. 303032/2016–2).

The authors would like to thank Akemi Shibuya (Amazonian National Research Institute) and Wallice Luiz Paxiúba Duncan (Federal University of Amazonas) for kindly providing photos of freshwater stingray specimens. They are also grateful to Dr Maia (Giselda Trigueiro Hospital) and Dr Neves for providing photos of freshwater stingray envenomations.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest or any financial interest or benefit that has arisen from the direct applications of this research.

Additional information

Funding

JLVL was a recipient of a doctoral fellowship from CAPES. MCS is a recipient of a CNPq-PQ grant [ref. nos. 303786/2013–2 and 303032/2016–2].