The deathstalker ( Leiurus quinquestriatus ) is a species of scorpion, a member of the Buthidae family. It is also known as the Israeli or Palestinian yellow scorpion, Omdurman scorpion , Naqab scorpion wizard and with many other everyday names, generally derived from animal commercial captive trade. To eliminate confusion, especially important with potentially hazardous species, the scientific name is usually used to refer to them. The name Leiurus quinquestriatus is roughly translated into English as "delicate five-pointed tail". Other species of the Leiurus genus are also commonly referred to as "deathstalkers".
Video Deathstalker
Description
Leiurus quinquestriatus is yellow, and is 30-77 millimeters (1.2-3.0 in) long, with an average of 58 mm (2.3 inches).
Maps Deathstalker
Geographic range
Leiurus quinquestriatus can be found in desert habitats and scrublands ranging from North Africa to the Middle East. Its reach includes wide sweeps of territory in the Sahara, the Arabian Desert, Thar Desert, and Central Asia, from Algeria and Mali in the west to Egypt, Ethiopia, Asia Minor and the Arabian Peninsula, east to Kazakhstan and western India in the northeast and southeast.
Venom
Neurotoxins in L. quinquestriatus toxins include:
- Chlorotoxin
- Charybdotoxin
- Scyllatoxin
- One, two and three type agitoksin
Hazard
The deathstalker is one of the most dangerous species of the scorpion. The poison is a powerful mixture of neurotoxins, with a low lethal dose. While the sting from the scorpion is incredibly painful, it usually will not kill a healthy adult human. However, children, elderly people, or weak people (such as those with heart problems and those with allergies) have a much greater risk. Each envenomation carries the risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to its toxin. An Israeli study shows a high rate of pancreatitis after envenomation. If the sting of Leiurus quinquestriatus is proven to be very lethal, the cause of death is usually pulmonary edema.
Antivenom for the treatment of deathstalker envenomations is produced by pharmaceutical companies Twyford (Germany) and Sanofi Pasteur (France), and by the Antivenom and Vaccine Production Center in Riyadh. Envenomation by deathstalker is considered a medical emergency even with antivenom treatment, because its toxins are highly resistant to treatment and usually require large doses of antivenom.
In the United States and other countries outside the typical range of deathstalkers, there is an additional complicated factor that no antivenoms are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (or equivalent institutions) and are only available as the research drug (INDs). ). The US Army maintains an inquiry drug application for the AVPC-Riyadh antivenom in an army envenomation event at the Gulf War operating theater, and Florida Antivenin Bank maintains the IND application for Scorpifav Sanofi Pasteur antivenom.
Usage
The deathstalker toxic component, chlorotoxin peptide, has demonstrated the potential for treating human brain tumors. There is also some evidence to suggest that other components of toxins can help in insulin regulation and can be used to treat diabetes.
In 2015, clinical trials begin using chlorotoxin with fluorescent molecules embedded as "cat" brain tumors (BLZ-100), to mark cancer cells in real time during surgery. This is important in brain cancer surgery, where it is important to lift as many cancer cells as possible, but not eliminate the healthy tissue needed for brain function. In preclinical animal experiments, this technique can highlight a very small group of at least 200 cancer cells, compared to the use of standard MRI, with a lower limit of more than 500,000.
Legality
Ownership of L.quinquestriatus may be illegal or regulated in countries with laws that prohibit the maintenance of dangerous animals in general. Jurisdiction increasingly and explicitly includes L.quinquestriatus in laws requiring permission to keep animals that are not common pets, or restricting the possession of dangerous animals, and in some cases have prohibited the storage of L. quinquestriatus sparingly by licensed zoos and educational facilities.
In some jurisdictions the department of fish and wildlife requires permission for many animals, and a number of towns and municipalities have banned their ownership in their regulations.
References
External links
- Leiurus quinquestriatus , WikiPets
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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