Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma

“Defense” injuries in attacks on humans by domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and jaguar (Panthera onca)

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Manoel Francisco de Campos Neto 1
Vidal Haddad Junior 2

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

https://doi.org/10.15171/jept.2019.11
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

Wildlife
Domestic animals
Animal bites
Attacks on humans
Subjects
1. Bradford JE, Freer L. Bites and injuries inflicted by wild and domestic animals. In: Auerbach P, ed. Wilderness medicine. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Mosby; 2012.
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.
5. Michalski F, Boulhosa RLP, Faria A, Peres CA. Human–wildlife conflicts in a fragmented Amazonian forest landscape: determinants of large felid depredation on livestock. Anim Conserv 2006; 9(2): 179-88. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00025.x.
6. Silver SC, Ostro LET, Marsh LK, Maffei L, Noss AJ, Kelly MJ, et al. The use of camera traps for estimating jaguar Panthera onca abundance and density using capture/recapture analysis. Oryx 2004; 38(2): 148-54. doi: 10.1017/
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.
Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma
Volume 5, Issue 2
July 2019
Pages 81-84

  • Receive Date 13 April 2019
  • Revise Date 14 May 2019
  • Accept Date 14 May 2019

Home

Editor-in-Chief: Shahrad Tajoddini, MD

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us

Editorial board