Post mortem findings in dogs intoxicated by bee stings
Keywords:
Apis mellifera, Degeneration, Hymenopteran, Necrosis, ToxinAbstract
Bee sting poisonings have great relevance for both human and veterinary medicine. The toxin components present harmful actions on tissues, especially on kidneys, and can lead to death, even when the inoculated dose is small. The early identification of this type of intoxication allows the implementation of appropriate therapeutic measures and improvement of the prognosis. Thus, the present study aimed to report the anatomopathological findings of two mixed-breed dogs, which were fatal victims of bee stings. The animals were litter brothers, one male and one female, with three years old and weighing about 30kg. The dogs were found dead at night, already in rigor mortis, which led to the suspicion that the death had occurred no more than five hours ago. The main macroscopic lesions were: cutaneous petechiae, some of them associated with bee stingers, generalized congestion, haemorrhage, necrosis, and oedema, as well as insects with morphology compatible with Apis mellifera dispersed in the gastrointestinal tract. Microscopically, degeneration, necrosis, and renal haemorrhages were the most relevant findings, in addition to marked pulmonary oedema, which was considered the causa mortis. Thus, the most important alterations in this type of intoxication are necrosis, haemorrhage, oedema, and congestion. Moreover, death can occur quickly, even with low doses of the toxin.
References
ALMEIDA, R.A.; OLIVO, T.E.; MENDES, R.P.; BARRAVIERA, S.R.; SOUZA, L.R.; MARTINS, J.G.; HASHIMOTO, M.; FABRIS, V.E.; FERREIRA JUNIOR, R.S.; BARRAVIERA, B. Africanized honeybee stings: how to treat them. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, v.44, n.6, p.755-761, 2011.
AZEVEDO-MARQUES, M.M.; FERREIRA, D.B.; COSTA, R.S. Rhabdomyonecrosis experimentally induced in Wistar rats by Africanized bee venom. Toxicon, v.30, n.3, p.344-348, 1992.
BARBOSA, A.; LESLIE, B.; CHIPPAUX, J.P.; MEDOLAGO, N.B.; CARAMORI, C.A.; PAIXÃO, A.G.; POLI, J.P.V.; MENDES, M.; SANTOS, L.; FERREIRA, R.S., JR.; BARRAVIERA, B. A clinical trial protocol to treat massive Africanized honeybee (Apis mellifera) attack with a new Apilic antivenom. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v.23, 2 n.14, p,1-10, 2017.
BRASIL, Ministério da Saúde. Saúde de A a Z. Acidentes por Animais Peçonhentos. Disponível em: <http://portalms.saude.gov.br/saude-de-az/acidentes-por-animais-peconhentos>. Acesso em: 08 jun 2021.
BURKE, J.E.; DENNIS, E.A. Phospholipase A2 structure/function, mechanism, and signaling. Journal of Lipid Research, v.50, p.237-242, 2009.
CALDAS, S.A.; GRAÇA, F.A.S.; DE BARROS, J.S.M.; ROLIM, M.F.; PEIXOTO, T.D.C.; PEIXOTO, P.V. Lesions caused by Africanized honeybee stings in three cattle. Journal in Brazil of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v.19, n.18, p.1-5, 2013.
COWELL, A.K.; COWELL, R.L.; T.LER, R.D.; NIEVES, M.A. Severe systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings in three dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v.198, n.6, p.1014-1016, 1991.
DE GRAAF, D.; BRAGA, M.R.B; DE ABREU, R.M.M.; BLANL, S.; BRIDTS, C.H.; DE CLERCK, L.S; DEVREESE, B.; EBO, D.G.; FERRIS, T.J.; HAGENDORENS, M.M.; JACOMINI, D.L.J.; KANCHEV, I.; KOKOT, Z.J.; MATYSIAK, J.; MERTENS, C.; SABATO, V.; VAN GASSE, A.L; VAN VAERENBERGH, M. Standard methods for Apis mellifera venom research. Journal of Apicultural Research, Ahead-of-Print, p.1-31, 2021.
FERREIRA JUNIOR, R.S.; SCIANI, J.M.; MARQUES-PORTO, R.; LOURENÇO JUNIOR, A.; ORSI, R.O.; BARRAVIERA, B.; PIMENTA, D.C. Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom profiling: Seasonal variation of melittin and phospholipase A2 levels. Toxicon, v.56, n.3, p.355-362, 2010.
FITZGERALD, K.T.; FLOOD, A.A. Hymenoptera stings. Clinical Techniques in Small Animal Practice, v.21, n.4, p.194-204, 2006.
FRANÇA, F.O.S.; BENVENUTI, L.A.; FAN, H.W.; DOS SANTOS, D.R.; HAIN, S.H.; PICCHI-MARTINS, F.R.; CARDOSO, J.L.C.; KAMIGUTI, A.S.; THEAKSTON, R.D.G.; WARRELL, D.A. Severe and fatal mass attacks by ''killer'' bees (Africanized honey bees Apis mellifera scutellata) in Brazil: clinicopathological studies with measurement of serum venom concentrations. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, v.87, n.5, p.269-282, 1994.
GRISOTTO, L.S.D.; MENDES, G.E.; CASTRO, I.; BAPTISTA, M.A.S.F.; ALVES, V.A.; YU, L.; BURDMANN, E.A. Mechanisms of bee venom-induced acute renal failure. Toxicon, v.48, n.1, p.44-54, 2006.
GUIMARÃES, J.V.; COSTA, R.C.; MACHADO, B.H.; REIS, M.A. Cardiovascular prolife after intravenous injection of africanized bee venom in awake rats. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, v.46, n.1, p.55-58, 2004.
HABERMANN, E. Bee and wasp venoms. The biochemistry and pharmacology of their peptides and enzymes are reviewed. Science, v.177, n.4046, p.314-322, 1972.
HOMMEL, D.; BOLLANDARD, F.; HULIN, A. Multiple African honeybee stings and acute renal failure. Nephron, v.78, n.2, p.235-236, 1998.
HUMBLET, Y.; SONNET, J.; VAN YPERSELE, D.E.; STRIHOU, C. Bee stings and acute tubular necrosis. Nephron, v.31, n.2, p.187-188, 1982.
LEE, M.T.; SUN, T.L.; HUNG, W.C.; HUANG, H.W. Process of inducing pores in membranes by melittin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, v.110, n.35, p.14243-14248, 2013.
MACHADO, M.; DE SOUSA, D.E.R.; DE ALBUQUERQUE LANDI, M.F.; MEZIARA, T.; WILSON, S.M.H.; BECCON, C.F.; DE CASTRO, M.B. Reação tóxica sistêmica causada por picadas de abelhas em cães. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.46. n.1, pub.271, p.1-5, 2018.
MANOQUERRA, A.S. Hymenoptera stings. In: LING, L.; CLARK, R.F.; ERICKSON, T. Toxicology Secrets. Filadélfia: 1ª ed., Hanley & Belfus, p.281-284, 2001.
MEDEIROS, C.R.; FRANÇA, F.O.S. Acidentes por abelhas e vespas. In: CARDOSO, J.L.C.; FRANÇA, F.O.S.; WEN, F.H.; MALAQUE, C.M.S.; JUNIOR, V.H. Animais peçonhentos no Brasil: biologia, clínica e terapêutica de acidentes. São Paulo: 1ª ed., Savier, p.243-251, 2003.
MELLO, M.H.S.H.; SILVA, E.A.; NATAL, D. Abelhas africanizadas em área metropolitana do Brasil: abrigos e influências climáticas. Revista de Saúde Pública, v.37, n.2, p.237-241, 2003.
MENDES, R.P.; MEIRA, D.A.; TEIXEIRA, U.A.; MOLINARI, H.; RODRIGUES, P.S.; COELHO, K.Y.R. Acidente por múltiplas picadas de abelha: relato de dois casos, revisão da literatura e discussão da patogenia e tratamento. Arquivos Brasileiros de Medicina, v.64, n.2, p.81-88, 1990.
MUHAMMAD, G.; SAQIB, M.; MALLICK, S. H. Honey-bee stinging (apisination): what the medical and veterinary professionals ought to know? Pakistan Veterinary Journal, v.20, n.4, p.209-211, 2000.
OLIVEIRA, E.C.; PEDROSO, P.M.; MEIRELLES, A.E.; PESCADOR, C.A.; GOUVÊA, A. S.; DRIEMEIER, D. Pathological findings in dogs after multiple Africanized bee stings. Toxicon, v.49, n.8, p.1214-1218, 2007.
ORŠOLIC, N. Bee venom in cancer therapy. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, v.31, n.1, p.173-194, 2012.
PETROIANU, G.; LIU, J.; HELFRICH, U.; MALECK, W.; RÜFER, R. Phospholipase A2-induced coagulation abnormalities after bee sting. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, v.18, n.1, p.22-27, 2000.
RICHES, K.J.; GILLIS, D.; JAMES, R.A. An autopsy approach to bee sting-related deaths. Pathology, v.34, n.3, p.257-262, 2002.
ROODT, A.R.; SALOMÓN, O.D.; ORDUNA, T.A.; ORTIZ, L.E.R.; SOLÍS, J.F.P.; CANO, A.A. Envenenamiento por picaduras de abeja. Gaceta Médica de México, v.141, n.3, p.215-222, 2005.
SANTOS, A.M.M.; MENDES, E.C. Abelha africanizada (Apis mellifera L.) em áreas urbanas no Brasil: necessidade de monitoramento de risco e acidentes. Revista Sustinere, v.4, n.1, p.117-143, 2016.
SANTOS, L.D.; PIERONI, M.; MENEGASSO, A.R.S.; PINTO, J.R.A.S.; PALMA, M.S.A. new scenario of bioprospecting of Hymenoptera venoms through proteomic approach. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, v.17, n.4, p.364-377, 2011.
SCHMIDT, J.O. Toxinology of venoms from the honeybee genus Apis. Toxicon, v.33, n.7, p.917-927, 1995.
SCIANI, J.M.; MARQUES-PORTO, R.; LOURENÇO JUNIOR, A.; ORSI, R.O.; FERREIRA JUNIOR, R.S.; BARRAVIERA, B.; PIMENTA, D.C. Identification of a novel melittin isoform from Africanized Apis mellifera venom. Peptides, v.31, n.8, p.1473-1479, 2010.
SHERMAN, R.A. What physicians should know about Africanized honeybees. Western Journal of Medicine, v.163, n.6, p.541, 1995.
THOMAS, E.; MANDELL, D.C.; WADDELL, L.S. Survival after anaphylaxis induced by a bumblebee sting in a dog. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, v.49, n.3, p.210-215, 2013.
VEADO, H.C.; CONCEIÇÃO, R.S.; NOGUEIRA, K.; FINO, T.C.M.; SILVA, A.S.; CASTRO, M.B.; SOTO-BLANCO, B.; CÂMARA, A.C.L. Massive Africanized honeybee stings in two hair sheep and a mare. Toxicon, v.177, p.35-40, 2020.
VETTER, R.S.; VISSCHER, P.K.; CAMAZINE, S. Mass envenomations by honey bees and wasps. Western Journal of Medicine, v.170, n.4, p.223-227, 1999.
