The risk of exotic venomous snakes to public health in Brazil

摘要

The hobby of breeding exotic snakes has generated a health problem, with numerous cases of snakebites around the world, mainly in North America and Europe; this is because some breeders are acquiring venomous species1,2,3,4. Between 2005 and 2011, 258 cases of snakebites involving 61 species of exotic venomous snakes were recorded in the United States, which is an average of 37 cases per year3 . In northeastern Germany and southeastern France, from 1996 to 2006, 155 cases were recorded (an average of 14 per year)2 . The monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) is among the most bred species and a major cause of envenomations in the United States, including cases that have been fatal1,3.