ANIMAL TOXINSScorpions

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION Kingdom:Animalia Phylum:Arthropoda Subphylum:Chelicerata Class:Arachnida Subclass:Dromopoda Order: Scorpiones

CHARACTERISTICS OF SCORPIONS

They have eight legsAre easily

recognized by the pair of grasping

claws

narrow, segmented tail

with a venomous stinger

Scorpions range in size from 9 mm (Typhlochactas

mitchelli) to 21 cm (Hadogenes

troglodytes).

SCORPION ANATOMY

1 = Cephalothorax or Prosoma;2 = Abdomen or Mesosoma;3 = Tail or Metasoma;4 = Claws or Pedipalps5 = Legs;6 = Mouth parts or Chelicerae;7 = pincers or Chelae;8 = Moveable claw or Tarsus;9 = Fixed claw or Manus;10 = Sting or Telson;11 = Anus.

 5 MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

Fat Tailed ScorpionsScientific name:Androctonus crassicaudaFamily: ButhidaeGenus: AndroctunusToxin:

 5 MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

DeathStalker ScorpionScientific name:Leiurus quinquestriatusFamily:ButhidaeGenus:LeiurusSpecies:L. quinquestriatusToxin:Chlorotoxin

5 MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

Gormar ScorpionScientific name:Pandinus CavimanusFamily:Genus:

5 MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

Red Claw ScorpionScientific name:Pandinus cavimanusFamily: ScorpionidaeGenus: PandinusSpecies : P. cavimanus

5 MOST POISONOUS SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

Emperor ScorpionScientific name:Pandinus imperatorFamily:ScorpionidaeGenus:PandinusSpecies:P. imperatorToxin: imperatoxin

Transvaal thick-tailed scorpion or dark scorpionFamily:ButhidaeGenus:ParabuthusSpecies:P. transvaalicusToxin: birtoxin

CHLOROTOXIN (CTX) 36 Amino Acid Residue Inhibits conductance of chloride channels by blocking Ca++ activated chloride channels in the Central Nervous System.

Chloride channel protein ClC-Ka Chloride channel protein ClC-Kb Chloride intracellular channel protein 1 Chloride intracellular channel protein 2 Chloride intracellular channel protein 3 Chloride intracellular channel protein 4 Chloride intracellular channel protein 5 Chloride intracellular channel protein 6 Chloride channel protein, skeletal muscle Chloride channel protein 2 H(+)/Cl(-) exchange transporter 3 H(+)/Cl(-) exchange transporter 5 Chloride transport protein 6 Chloride channel protein 7 H(+)/Cl(-) exchange transporter 4

CHLOROTOXIN

BIRTOXIN 58 amino acid residues Changes sodium channel activation

BIRTOXIN

scorpio maurusScientific name:S. maurus palmatusFamily:ScorpionidaeGenus:ScorpioSpecies:S. maurusToxin: maurotoxin

MAUROTOXIN 34 amino acid residue Acts by blocking several types of voltage-gated potassium channel.

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein 1

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein 2

Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein 3

Intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein 4

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 1

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 2

Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 3

MAUROTOXIN

SYMPTOMS OF POISONING Fever excessive salivation involuntary tearing nausea or vomiting confusion coma convulsions increased or decreased heart rate, body

temperature disregulation, and pulmonary edema (wet lungs)

FIRST AID If you are stung by any scorpion, including the

venomous Arizona Bark Scorpion, here are some immediate actions you should take:

1. Wash the area with soap and water. 2.Apply a cool compress on the area of the scorpion

sting. Ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) may be applied to the sting location for ten minutes. Remove compress for ten minutes and repeat as necessary.

3. If stung on a limb (arm or leg) elevate the limb to heart level.

4. Keep your tetanus shots and boosters current.

REFERENCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorotoxin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabuthus

_transvaalicus http://health.nytimes.com/health/guide

s/poison/scorpions/overview.html