An epidemiological study of scorpion envenomation in the Zagora oases ( Morocco)

Scorpion envenomation is a real public health problem in many parts of the world, especially in North Africa, Central America, South America, the Middle East and India[1] [2] [3] [4], with over 1.2 million cases of scorpion stings and 3250 deaths each year worldwide[5]. Among the 1500 species described, venoms of at least 25 species are of medical importance for humans and the majority of those species belong to Buthus, Parabuthus, Mesobuthus, Tityus, Leiurus, Androctonus and Centruroides genera of Buthidae family[5]. Scorpion stings in Morocco is the leading cause of poisonings with a rate of 30%–50% of all the poisoning cases reported to the Poison Control Center of Morocco (PCCM) mainly in the south and centralsouth provinces of the country, where the highest lethality rate was reported[6]. However the works done so far have rarely addressed the Moroccan Sahara and pre-Saharan areas, such as Zagora oases. This area is known by the presence of five species of scorpions including dangerous species like Hottentota gentilli, Androctonus amoreuxi and Androctonus liouvillei[4]. The presence of this dangerous wildlife may suggest a high incidence of scorpion envenomation. To assess the epidemiological situation in the province of Zagora we conducted this study which aims to investigate morbidity and mortality indicators using a prospective study over three years (2010–2013).