2. OVERVIEW
• Scorpions are venomous arthropods,
• Arachnida class
• order Scorpiones
• are represented by 16 families and approximately
• 1500 different species and subspecies
• medically important and considered risky to humans. All of
these scorpion species belong to the Buthidae family
3. Habitat and Distribution
• are found in all continents except Antarctica
• They are adapted to survive in a wide variety of habitats including
tropical forests, rain forests, grasslands, savanna, temperate forests,
caves, and even snow covered mountains
• are night time animals. During the day they hide under wood, stones,
loose bark, in sand, crevices and holes They come out of their houses at
night to hunt for food
• They are carnivorous and predaceous, feeding for the most part on
insects, spiders and other small animals.
4. Body Parts
• body are divided into segments. Covered with a cuticle . grow by molting
• Scorpions vary from (1–15 cm) long
• scorpion has 2 tagmata: a( prosoma or cephalothorax) and an
(opisthosoma or abdomen)
• Abdomen divided into 2 parts, a large mesosoma and a narrow
metasoma (or tail) ending in the venom vesicle
mesosoma bears 7 dorsal plates
• metasoma or tail consists of 5 narrow, mobile segments
5. Body parts
• The prosoma carries six pairs of appendages
• 1st pair short appendages called chelicera, which are used to destroy
food for swallowing
• 2nd pair large appendages called pedipalps, equipped with powerful
pincers used to grasp prey
• four pairs of walking legs.
• carapace bears median eyes, in the center and up to 5 pairs of
smaller lateral eyes, which are on the sides
6. Body Parts
• genital operculum, which is a pair of plates covering the genital pore
• pectines. These are sensory organs unique to scorpions that aid in
locating prey
• spiracles, which are tiny pores that open up to the book lungs
7.
8. Internal Structure
• Attached to the inner wall of the cuticle are striated muscles
• central nervous system with a brain, composed of 2 large ganglia and
a ventral nerve cord
• fast (phasic) neurons for rapid movement and slow (tonic) neurons for
slow movement
• A tubular heart is located on the dorsal side and runs the entire length of
the mesosoma
• digestive tract start with mouth and ends with anus.
• Scorpions possess Malpighian tubules which filter nitrogenous waste
• Reproductive organs include gonads, which are present in both males
and females
9.
10. Telson
• It is the end of the metasoma (tail)
• Also called venom vesicle
• Telson ends in the aculeus (or sting): needlelike structure with
2 subterminal laterodorsal openings
• It covered with numerous setae (hair like structure)
11. Scorpion venom
• is highly complex and heterogeneous , composed of
• peptides
• Enzymes
• Mixtures of inorganic salts,
• Free amino acids
• Nucleotides
• Lipids
13. Scorpion Envenoming
• about 1.2 million envenoming case leading to 3250 deaths per year.
• scorpion envenomation signs can be decided by the following:
(a) scorpion species, (b) composition of venom, and (c) the victim’s
physiological reaction to the venom
• ratio between people killed by a venomous snake, and killed by a
venomous scorpion is (1:10)
• Females & children may be more affected because of their lower body
weight
14. Envenomation symptoms
• scorpion envenoming are classified into 3 levels: mild, moderate, and
acute depending on the critical of symptoms
Mild
Local Pain
Redness of the skin &
Swelling
Agitation
Moderate
Fever
Vomiting
Abdominal Pain
Joint Pain
Rapid Breath
Hyperglycemia
Increasing Heart Beat
Acute
congestive heart failure
Brain Dysfunctions
myocardial failure
Cardiac Arrythmia
extreme muscular convulsion
Multiple Organ Failure
Coma
15. Treatment
• Most scorpion stings don't need medical treatment. But if symptoms are
acute, victim may need to receive care in a hospital. and may be given
drugs through a vein (intravenously) to treat pain.
• Scorpion antivenom may be given to children to prevent the
development of symptoms. Adults with acute symptoms also may be
given antivenom.
16. Lifestyle and home therapies
• If a scorpion stings you or your child, follow the suggestions below.
Healthy adults may not need further treatment, and these tips can help
keep children safe until they see a doctor:
• Clean the wound with soap and water.
• Apply a cool compress to the affected area. This may help reduce pain.
• Don't consume food or liquids if you're having difficulty swallowing.
• Check your or your child's vaccination records to be sure a tetanus
vaccine is up to date.
