Intoxications due to venomous and poisonous terrestrial animals. Forensic and toxicological aspects

Numerous marine and terrestrial animals may cause severe, even fatal intoxications in humans, either by injecting venom (spiders, scorpions, insects, snakes) or when used as food (mussels, fish). Although accidental, but also intentional (suicide, murder) envenoming and poisoning by animals play only a minor role in forensic practice, knowledge on the potential and the limitations to identify the toxin or its origin by autopsy and/or toxicological analysis is necessary, when expert opinion is requested. The wide variety of structures and the high toxicity of these natural products are a challenge for the forensic toxicologist. However, anamnesis and information on the circumstances of envenoming or poisoning are essential. This is the second of two articles. The first article deals with poisoning by marine animals.