Document Type : Case Report
Authors
1 The Forensic Medicine Section, POLITEC –Cáceres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil
2 Department of Dermatology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
This communication describes two attacks by domestic and wild carnivores in Caceres County, localized in the Pantanal area, an extensive flooded plain in Mato Grosso State, Midwest region of Brazil. The first attack took place in an urban area and was caused by a Rottweiler dog (Canis lupus familiaris) created by the family of the victim. Another attack occurred in a rural area, caused by a jaguar (Panthera onca), which was disturbed while feeding, characterizing an unprovoked attack. Both the patients were wounded in the forearm, with different severity of the wounds. The lesions restricted to the forearm were the consequence of the victims using their arms as a shield, featuring the “defense” injuries, but the severity of the wounds were proportional to the strength of the attacking carnivore. Health staffs and emergency centers should be alert for soft tissue and bone injuries in the observed body regions after domestic and wild animal attacks.
Keywords
Main Subjects
2. Haddad V Jr, Neto MF, Mendes AL. Mordeduras de animais (selvagens e domésticos) e humanas. Rev Patol Trop 2013; 42(1): 13-9. doi: 10.5216/rpt.v42i1.23587.
3. Baxter DN. The deleterious effects of dogs on human health: dog-associated injuries. Community Med 1984; 6(1): 29-36.
4. Neto MF, Garrone Neto D, Haddad V Jr. Attacks by jaguars (Panthera onca) on humans in central Brazil: report of three cases, with observation of a death. Wilderness Environ Med 2011; 22(2): 130-5. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2011.01.007.
S0030605304000286.
7. Burdge DR, Scheifele D, Speert DP. Serious Pasteurella multocida infections from lion and tiger bites. JAMA 1985; 253(22): 3296-7.
8. Goldstein EJ. Management of human and animal bite wounds. J Am Acad Dermatol 1989; 21(6): 1275-9.
)