TY - JOUR PY - 2010// TI - Piranha attacks in dammed streams used for human recreation in the State of São Paulo, Brazil JO - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical A1 - Haddad, Vidal A1 - Sazima, Ivan SP - 596 EP - 598 VL - 43 IS - 5 N2 - In recent years, attacks by piranhas have become a common problem in dammed portions of rivers and streams in the State of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. In two outbreaks recorded in two neighboring counties in the Northwest region of the state, 74 bathers were bitten. Only one bite per person was recorded during a short period of the year. The bites were related to parental care and/or defense of spawning territory, which confirms previous studies and demystify the attacks by these legendary fish, as they are perceived by most people. Placement of fine mesh nets and removal of aquatic vegetation stopped the attacks.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0037-8682 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -