Scorpionic serotherapy in pregnancy and its effects on the offspring

Scorpionic poisoning is a public health problem, due to the high number of cases registered not only in Brazil but in the world, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. It is known that scorpion poisoning can cause problems ranging from simple local manifestations, such as small edema, to serious problems, such as cardiocirculatory complications, which can lead to death. In the case of poisoning of women during pregnancy, there are risks for both the mother and the fetus, causing the death of both in extreme cases. In previous studies, we observed that when the venom of the scorpion Tityus bahiensis is administered to rats during pregnancy or lactation, changes in the physical, reflexological and behavioral development of the offspring occur, both in the perinatal phase and in adulthood, as well as changes in levels of some cytokines and neurotransmitters. Serotherapy is the most suitable method for treating scorpion poisoning. However, there are very few studies regarding the effects that antivenom can have on the fetus, whether beneficial or not. Therefore, this project aims to study and elucidate the effects of perinatal scorpion serotherapy, checking if there is any physiological change in the fetus, as well as if there is a reversal of the changes caused by the poisoning of their mothers.