Marine Envenomations

As man takes increasing advantage of the waters of the world for recreational, commercial and scientific purposes, the hazards of human contact with inhabitants must be appreciated. Many invertebrate and vertebrate animal species have developed natural defense mechanisms, some of which involve envenomation, with a few species posing the threat of serious injury or death. This paper discusses the more common and more serious marine envenomations encountered worldwide, including toxicology of the associated venoms and a discussion of current treatment recommendations.