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Serpientes de Santiago del Estero
232
Abstracts J. W., Heez, E. C. and NADER, R. (Instituto Nacional de Microbiologia and Instituto de Animales Venenosos, Santiago del Estero, Argentina) . Serpientes de Santiago del Estero. Act~ zool. lilloana 20, 211, 1964. AHAL08,
authors list and describe 25 species of snakes from the province of Santiago del Estero in North Centre Argentina. Localities are listed and variations summarized for most species. Notes on habitat, behavior, and food are given for many of the more common ones . A new subspecies of the boa, Eptcrates cenckrla, is described. The dangerously venomous snakes are a coral snake, Mlcrurus lemniscatus frontalis, twolance-heads, Bothrops alternate and B. neuwledii meridlonalis, and a rattlesnake, Crotalus durlssus terrlftcus. The latter two species are most plentiful. A good paper that would be further improved by a key to the species listed . S.A .M . THS
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning: A Symposium. BnNtveR, A. H. Ciguatera in the Pacific. OKIHIRO, M. M., KEENAN, J. P. and IvY, A. C. Jr. Ciguatera fish poisoning with cholinesterase inhibition . Lt, K. M. A note on ciguatera fish poison and action of its proposed antidotes. Hawaii med. J. 24, 353, 1965 . Ttus paper is a composite of three articles concerned with the general aspects of ciguatera fish poisoning in the Pacific area and the results of some recent studies on the pharmacology and chemistry of ciguatoxin. It has been noted that ciguatera poses a potential threat to the Hawaiian Islands as well as other Pacific Islands. The poison is believed to be a small-molecular phosphotide with powerful anticholinesterase activity . Encouraging results in thetreatment of ciguatera have occurred in some cases with theuse of 2-PAM (2-pyridine aldoxime methochloride). However, the drug hasto be started immediately ; it is usuallyineffective 24 hr after symptoms develop. B.W .H .
Cnvna,, G. W. K. and Roseazsox, PHrt.t.ts L. (University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia) . Ant venoms, attractants, and repellents . Science, 149, 1337, 1965 .
Trns paper is a critical review of current knowledge of the source, chemical constitution, and function of venoms, repellents, and attractants secreted by ants. The Formicidae, a highly evolved family of social insects, produce these secretions from a system of exocrine (ducted) glands in the head, thorax, and garter. These glands vary from group to group of Formicidae in development and relationship to each other. This variation is reflected in group habit changes such as that from carnivorous feeding on prey killed by stinginjected venom to feeding on plants marked by odor trails, and can be correlated with chemical differences in the compounds the glands secrete. In one highly evolved subfamily, the venom apparatus is reduced or atrophied, and its place taken by anal glands which produce volatile alarm and defense secretions instead of venom. In another highly evolved group, the non-stinging members of subfamily Formicinae, the venom glands secrete large amounts of formic acid which is used offensively to incapacitate prey, and defensively to repel intruders. Venoms of the sting-bearing ants can be broadly classified as proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous. As an example, the venom of the bull ant, Myrmecia galore, has been shown to contain histamine, and also exhibits hyaluronidase activity . A heat-labile, hemolytic protein fraction has also been characterized from M. galore venom. Of the non-proteinaceous venoms, that of the fire ant, Sole~:opsis saevissima (Myrmicinae) is the most extensively studied. The active principle is an amine, possible C, 6H N. A carbonyl compound has been detected in the accessory gland. Attractants and repellents have been studied principally in the highly evolved Dolichoderinae and Formicinae . Of the attractants the alarm substances are best known. These are oxygenated aliphatic or terpenoid compounds of relatively low molecular weight and high volatility. The authors stress the need for further research on glandular origin and behavioral function of secretions . H.L.K . D. F. J., $TARZECKI, B. and Hoxrrea, G. J. (cordon Craig Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia). Mechanism and pharmacology of shock due to rattlesnake venom in sheep. J. appl. Physiol., 20, 709, 1965 . H~,n~~art,
sheep were used, mainly to evaluate therapies for rattlesnake (Crotelus atrox) venom poisoning. In 9 experiments using single, rapid non-lethal 20 Wg per kg intravenous doses of venom there was at 5 min a fall in arterial blood pressure, cardiac output and systemic arterial resistance . At 10 min these paraSevExrr-ataxr
Abstracts J. W., Heez, E. C. and NADER, R. (Instituto Nacional de Microbiologia and Instituto de Animales Venenosos, Santiago del Estero, Argentina) . Serpientes de Santiago del Estero. Act~ zool. lilloana 20, 211, 1964. AHAL08,
authors list and describe 25 species of snakes from the province of Santiago del Estero in North Centre Argentina. Localities are listed and variations summarized for most species. Notes on habitat, behavior, and food are given for many of the more common ones . A new subspecies of the boa, Eptcrates cenckrla, is described. The dangerously venomous snakes are a coral snake, Mlcrurus lemniscatus frontalis, twolance-heads, Bothrops alternate and B. neuwledii meridlonalis, and a rattlesnake, Crotalus durlssus terrlftcus. The latter two species are most plentiful. A good paper that would be further improved by a key to the species listed . S.A .M . THS
Ciguatera Fish Poisoning: A Symposium. BnNtveR, A. H. Ciguatera in the Pacific. OKIHIRO, M. M., KEENAN, J. P. and IvY, A. C. Jr. Ciguatera fish poisoning with cholinesterase inhibition . Lt, K. M. A note on ciguatera fish poison and action of its proposed antidotes. Hawaii med. J. 24, 353, 1965 . Ttus paper is a composite of three articles concerned with the general aspects of ciguatera fish poisoning in the Pacific area and the results of some recent studies on the pharmacology and chemistry of ciguatoxin. It has been noted that ciguatera poses a potential threat to the Hawaiian Islands as well as other Pacific Islands. The poison is believed to be a small-molecular phosphotide with powerful anticholinesterase activity . Encouraging results in thetreatment of ciguatera have occurred in some cases with theuse of 2-PAM (2-pyridine aldoxime methochloride). However, the drug hasto be started immediately ; it is usuallyineffective 24 hr after symptoms develop. B.W .H .
Cnvna,, G. W. K. and Roseazsox, PHrt.t.ts L. (University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia) . Ant venoms, attractants, and repellents . Science, 149, 1337, 1965 .
Trns paper is a critical review of current knowledge of the source, chemical constitution, and function of venoms, repellents, and attractants secreted by ants. The Formicidae, a highly evolved family of social insects, produce these secretions from a system of exocrine (ducted) glands in the head, thorax, and garter. These glands vary from group to group of Formicidae in development and relationship to each other. This variation is reflected in group habit changes such as that from carnivorous feeding on prey killed by stinginjected venom to feeding on plants marked by odor trails, and can be correlated with chemical differences in the compounds the glands secrete. In one highly evolved subfamily, the venom apparatus is reduced or atrophied, and its place taken by anal glands which produce volatile alarm and defense secretions instead of venom. In another highly evolved group, the non-stinging members of subfamily Formicinae, the venom glands secrete large amounts of formic acid which is used offensively to incapacitate prey, and defensively to repel intruders. Venoms of the sting-bearing ants can be broadly classified as proteinaceous or nonproteinaceous. As an example, the venom of the bull ant, Myrmecia galore, has been shown to contain histamine, and also exhibits hyaluronidase activity . A heat-labile, hemolytic protein fraction has also been characterized from M. galore venom. Of the non-proteinaceous venoms, that of the fire ant, Sole~:opsis saevissima (Myrmicinae) is the most extensively studied. The active principle is an amine, possible C, 6H N. A carbonyl compound has been detected in the accessory gland. Attractants and repellents have been studied principally in the highly evolved Dolichoderinae and Formicinae . Of the attractants the alarm substances are best known. These are oxygenated aliphatic or terpenoid compounds of relatively low molecular weight and high volatility. The authors stress the need for further research on glandular origin and behavioral function of secretions . H.L.K . D. F. J., $TARZECKI, B. and Hoxrrea, G. J. (cordon Craig Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia). Mechanism and pharmacology of shock due to rattlesnake venom in sheep. J. appl. Physiol., 20, 709, 1965 . H~,n~~art,
sheep were used, mainly to evaluate therapies for rattlesnake (Crotelus atrox) venom poisoning. In 9 experiments using single, rapid non-lethal 20 Wg per kg intravenous doses of venom there was at 5 min a fall in arterial blood pressure, cardiac output and systemic arterial resistance . At 10 min these paraSevExrr-ataxr