First epidemiological reports of scorpion stings by Tityus confluens Borelli, 1899 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in southern Brazil: an upcoming medically important species in Paraná.

Scorpion envenomation is a growing public health concern in Brazil. The species Tityus confluens Borelli, 1899 has historically been overlooked as a major threat, although its recent presence in Paraná raises new concerns. This study documents for the first time 30 epidemiological reports of T. confluens stings in Paraná, primarily in Foz do Iguaçu (86.7 %) between 2012 and 2024. Most cases involved males (66.7 %), with victims exhibiting local symptoms such as pain (100 %), edema (60 %), and less commonly other manifestations as erythema and tingling (3.3 %). The most commonly stung body part were hands (15 reports, 50 %). No fatalities were recorded, and all cases were successfully managed with pain control measures, following national treatment guidelines. The presence of T. confluens in urban and rural areas, combined with taxonomic uncertainties and potential misidentifications in epidemiological databases, suggests the need for improved species identification and monitoring. Given to its synanthropic behavior, parthenogenetic reproduction, and reports of severe envenomation in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, T. confluens warrants further study as a potential medical concern in Brazil.