Evaluación del riesgo de mordedura de serpiente y variabilidad geográfica en la composición del veneno de la víbora del Magreb (Daboia mauritanica) y la víbora hocicuda (Vipera latastei-monticola) en el norte de Marruecos

Snakebite is a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. In Morocco, people suffering from snakebite are often treated with non-specific antivenoms, which neglect both inter- and intra-specific variability of snake venom components, and lead to unpredictable results. In addition, many inhabitants of rural or remote areas have limited economic resources to seek adequate medical care and/or resort to traditional medicine to treat snakebite. The snakes most frequently involved in snakebite accidents in Morocco are vipers (Family Viperidae), with six species (Bitis arietans, Cerastes cerastes, Cerastes vipera, Daboia mauritanica and Echis leucogaster) considered as medically important and potentially lethal by the World Health Organization, and another, Vipera monticola, for which the toxicity of its venom is completely unknown. With this project we aim to: (1) analyze the geographic variability of the venom components of two Mediterranean vipers, Daboia mauritanica and Vipera monticola, in Morocco, specifically in the Rif region and in the Atlas region (Middle and High Atlas); (2) investigate the phylogenetic and ecological factors that could be at the base of such variation; and (3) provide an assessment of the incidence of snakebite in this area.