Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon.
<h4>Background</h4>Species of the genus Echis, particularly those of the 'ocellatus' group, are responsible for the majority of snakebite envenomations and deaths in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. In a clinical study conducted in Cameroon, we treated a series of patients b...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-07-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013195 |
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| author | Jean-Philippe Chippaux Pierre Amta Yoann Madec Rodrigue Ntone Gaëlle Noël Pedro Clauteaux Yap Boum Ii Armand S Nkwescheu Fabien Taieb |
| author_facet | Jean-Philippe Chippaux Pierre Amta Yoann Madec Rodrigue Ntone Gaëlle Noël Pedro Clauteaux Yap Boum Ii Armand S Nkwescheu Fabien Taieb |
| author_sort | Jean-Philippe Chippaux |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Species of the genus Echis, particularly those of the 'ocellatus' group, are responsible for the majority of snakebite envenomations and deaths in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. In a clinical study conducted in Cameroon, we treated a series of patients bitten by formally identified E. romani. The clinical outcomes are described and discussed.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Specimens brought in by the victim were identified by a herpetologist. Clinical description and therapeutic management followed a standardized protocol applied by trained physicians. We included 92 patients, 95% of whom (n = 87) were envenomated. More than one third of the bites occurred during agricultural work, and one quarter in the victim's home. The bite site was the foot in 48 victims (52%) and the hand in 40 others (43%), mostly children and teenagers. Cytotoxic syndrome was observed in 84 of the 87 envenomated patients (97%). Hemostasis disorders were observed in 78 patients (90%), 38 of whom (44%) experienced bleeding during hospitalization. In 5 of the latter (13%), the bleeding recurred, whereas it had stopped after antivenom administration. A further 7 patients, who were not bleeding on arrival, experienced late bleeding despite antivenom administration. Four patients (4.3%), including one pregnant woman, died. All were bleeding on arrival. Finally, 2 patients (2.2%) had permanent sequelae of moderate severity.<h4>Conclusion/significance</h4>This study confirms the frequency and severity of hemorrhagic complications in E. romani envenomation. Lethality remains high despite antivenom treatment. Cytotoxic syndromes, present in 95% of victims, rarely progress to extensive necrosis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0bf412782ddc438982b1b14f2a3e1485 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-0bf412782ddc438982b1b14f2a3e14852025-08-20T02:49:53ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352025-07-01197e001319510.1371/journal.pntd.0013195Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon.Jean-Philippe ChippauxPierre AmtaYoann MadecRodrigue NtoneGaëlle NoëlPedro ClauteauxYap Boum IiArmand S NkwescheuFabien Taieb<h4>Background</h4>Species of the genus Echis, particularly those of the 'ocellatus' group, are responsible for the majority of snakebite envenomations and deaths in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. In a clinical study conducted in Cameroon, we treated a series of patients bitten by formally identified E. romani. The clinical outcomes are described and discussed.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Specimens brought in by the victim were identified by a herpetologist. Clinical description and therapeutic management followed a standardized protocol applied by trained physicians. We included 92 patients, 95% of whom (n = 87) were envenomated. More than one third of the bites occurred during agricultural work, and one quarter in the victim's home. The bite site was the foot in 48 victims (52%) and the hand in 40 others (43%), mostly children and teenagers. Cytotoxic syndrome was observed in 84 of the 87 envenomated patients (97%). Hemostasis disorders were observed in 78 patients (90%), 38 of whom (44%) experienced bleeding during hospitalization. In 5 of the latter (13%), the bleeding recurred, whereas it had stopped after antivenom administration. A further 7 patients, who were not bleeding on arrival, experienced late bleeding despite antivenom administration. Four patients (4.3%), including one pregnant woman, died. All were bleeding on arrival. Finally, 2 patients (2.2%) had permanent sequelae of moderate severity.<h4>Conclusion/significance</h4>This study confirms the frequency and severity of hemorrhagic complications in E. romani envenomation. Lethality remains high despite antivenom treatment. Cytotoxic syndromes, present in 95% of victims, rarely progress to extensive necrosis.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013195 |
| spellingShingle | Jean-Philippe Chippaux Pierre Amta Yoann Madec Rodrigue Ntone Gaëlle Noël Pedro Clauteaux Yap Boum Ii Armand S Nkwescheu Fabien Taieb Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. |
| title_full | Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. |
| title_short | Epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of formally identified Echis romani bites in northern Cameroon. |
| title_sort | epidemiologic clinical and therapeutic aspects of formally identified echis romani bites in northern cameroon |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013195 |
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