Poisoning due to venomous and poisonous marine animals . Forensic and toxicological aspects

Numerous marine and terrestrial animals can cause severe, even fatal poisoning in humans, either by injecting venom (e.g. spiders, scorpions, insects and snakes) or when used as food (e.g. mussels and fish). Although accidental and also intentional (e.g. suicide and murder) envenomation and poisoning by animals only play a minor role in forensic practice, knowledge of the potential and the limitations in identifying the toxin and the origin by autopsy and/or toxicological analysis is necessary when an expert opinion is required. The wide structural variety and the high toxicity of these natural products are a challenge for the forensic toxicologist; however, the patient history and information on the circumstances of envenomation or poisoning are also essential. This is the first of two articles. The second article deals with poisoning by terrestrial animals.