HIGH-INCIDENCE OF BITES AND STINGS BY SNAKES AND OTHER ANIMALS AMONG RUBBER TAPPERS AND AMAZONIAN INDIANS OF THE JURUA VALLEY, ACRE-STATE, BRAZIL

Among forest-dwelling Amazonian Indians and rubber tappers (seringueir os) of the Jurua valley in Acre State, north-western Brazil, snakebite is an important cause of morbidity and death. Overall, 13% of a surve yed population had been bitten during their lifetime. Seventeen per ce nt of Katukina Indians, but only 8% of Ashaninkas, had been bitten by snakes reflecting, perhaps, different levels of traditional knowledge of the forest and its dangers. Most bites occurred in the jungle or on jungle trails (56%), while people were working (41%) or walking (26%) , and were inflicted on the feet (54%). Ninety per cent of bite victim s received treatment, usually traditional (93%); the majority (80%) re covered fully. Mortality was estimated at about 400 deaths per 100,000 population per lifetime. Bites and stings from other venomous forest and river animals, especially the freshwater sting ray (Potamotrygon s p.), were also extremely common. One death from an ant bite was record ed.