BOOK REVIEW* * This book is available at the Library of the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
CARDOSO, J.L.C.; FRANÇA, F.O.S.; WEN, F.H.; MÁLAQUE, C.M.S. & HADDAD Jr., V. - Animais peçonhentos no Brasil: biologia, clínica e terapêutica dos acidentes. São Paulo, Sarvier; FAPESP, 2003. 468 p. ilus. ISBN 85-7378-133-5.
VENOMOUS ANIMALS IN BRAZIL: BIOLOGY, CLINIC AND THERAPEUTICS OF ENVENOMATIONS
In spite of the high morbidity resulting from venomous snake or other poisonous animal bites in our Country, this topic do not receive so much attention in the curricula of medical, paramedical and biological courses in Brazil.
There is no logical justification for this attitude, principally if we consider the historical participation of Brazilian scientists in the research and production of anti-venomous sera in a not so distant past and, on the other hand, the huge biodiversity present in this Country, specially related to snakes and other kind of poisonous animals.
This book published by five experts of the Butantan Institute, with the collaboration of 41 researchers of that and other Brazilian institutions and three foreigner experts, certainly will decrease the scarceness of specialized literature in Portuguese language. And, probably, it will stimulate medical and paramedical students to learn about the biological, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of diseases caused by animal venoms; moreover, it will constitute a very useful handbook for clinicians working in Brazilian regions where snakebite or accidents with other poisonous animals should be frequent.
Besides an interesting preface signed by Oswaldo Vital Brazil, an Emeritus Professor of UNICAMP and son of the famous researcher who was the founder of the Butantan Institute in 1901, the book is divided in seven parts, each one with several chapters, approaching the systematic, biological, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the several groups of poisinous animals occurring in Brazil.
Because of its comprehensiveness, deep literature review, scientific rigor and rich photographic documentation this book should have a decisive role in the information and formation of new researchers, recruited among young medical and biological professionals that could be attracted by this interesting area of knowledge.
Pedro Paulo Chieffi
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
26 Jan 2004 -
Date of issue
Dec 2003
