ResearchArticle Snakebite Envenomation From the Large Palearctic Viper, Macrovipera razii (Squamata: Serpentes; Viperidae), in Fars Province, Southern Iran Saeed Shahabi , Kourosh Azizi , Aboozar Soltani , Azim Paksa , Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard , and Mohsen Kalantari Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran Correspondence should be addressed to Mohsen Kalantari; kalantari22@yahoo.com Received 15 June 2024; Accepted 2 November 2024 Academic Editor: Rajib Chowdhury Copyright © 2024 Saeed Shahabi et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Snakebites are a signifcant health issue, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Envenomation from snakebites is a clinical emergency requiring prompt treatment. Recently, a new species of blunt-nosed viper, Macroviperarazii, was identifed in central and southern Iran through morphological and molecular studies. Tis large, dangerous viper can deliver substantial amounts of venom. Following reports to the Faculty of Health at Shiraz University of Medical Science (SUMS), the identifcation of venomous snakes involved in envenomation cases in Fars province was undertaken. Approximately 20 snakes were captured and presented by locals, while others provided photos. Despite some information being photo-based, the data highlighted the signifcant role of this viper in envenomation cases. Macroviperarazii is now recorded from 12 counties in Fars province. One incident involved a male bitten in Shiraz, and another case led to a male needing limb amputation. Tis study emphasizes the importance of this newly described viper in recent snakebite envenomations in the region and reviews its distribution within the Fars province. Keywords: Abundance; envenomization; geographic distribution; Iran; snake 1. Introduction Snakebite is a signifcant medical emergency, leading many individuals to health centers each year. It can result in in- juries, amputations, or even death. Tus, accurate knowl- edge and basic treatment methods are essential [1, 2]. Annually, there are about 5.5 million snakebites, 1.8 million cases of envenomation, and 94,000 deaths [1]. Most snakebites occur in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-saharan Africa, and Latin America [2]. Te majority of deaths from snakebites happen in Asia (estimated at 15,400–57,600 deaths per year) and Sub-Saharan Africa (3500–32,100 deaths per year) [3]. Snakes are categorized into three groups based on toxicity: venomous, semivenomous, and nonvenomous. Venomous snakes, primarily from the viperid and elapid families, are responsible for most snakebites, particularly in Iran [4]. Of the approximately 3000 identifed snake species worldwide, only 83 species from four families are endemic to Iran [5]. Most elapids are venomous and found in tropical and subtropical regions, with many possessing neurotoxic venom delivered through hollow fangs containing various toxic components. Viperids have a pair of long, sol- enoglyphous fangs that can rotate and are used for venom injection. Tese fangs are located at the front of the mouth on a short maxillary bone and fold back against the roof of the mouth when not in use, encased in a membranous sheath [6]. In Iran, snakebite envenomation management strategies vary by center and are not standardized, often relying on the practical experiences from other countries. Te venom composition of the same snake species can difer across Wiley Journal of Tropical Medicine Volume 2024, Article ID 4207010, 6 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/jotm/4207010