Personal Experience of Daboia siamensis Envenomation

Reports of envenomation induced by Daboia siamensis, a medically important venomous snake in Taiwan, are rare, and species identification might not be definitive. This article reports the complete course of a definite D. siamensis bite. The patient in this report was one of the authors who was bitten on the right palm near the base of the index finger by D. siamensis. The patient experienced local effects, neurological manifestations, and acute kidney injury. The laboratory analysis revealed elevated D-dimer and coagulopathy. The patient was administered 8 vials of antivenom and did not undergo surgical intervention or endotracheal tube intubation, but serum sickness occurred 8 days after antivenom administration. The horse immunoglobulin produced by the Centers for Disease Control, R. O. C. (Taiwan), against D. siamensis was effective and safe in the treatment of the patient. However, the best antivenom administration strategy remains unclear and requires further study.

Snake Venom Proteomics of Samar Cobra (Naja samarensis) from the Southern Philippines: Short Alpha-Neurotoxins as the Dominant Lethal Component Weakly Cross-Neutralized by the Philippine Cobra Antivenom

The Samar Cobra, Naja samarensis, is endemic to the southern Philippines and is a WHO-listed Category 1 venomous snake species of medical importance. Envenomation caused by N. samarensis results in neurotoxicity, while there is no species-specific antivenom available for its treatment. The composition and neutralization of N. samarensis venom remain largely unknown to date. This study thus aimed to investigate the venom proteome of N. samarensis for a comprehensive profiling of the venom composition, and to examine the immunorecognition as well as neutralization of its toxins by a hetero-specific antivenom. Applying C18 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), three-finger toxins (3FTx) were shown to dominate the venom proteome by 90.48% of total venom proteins. Other proteins in the venom comprised snake venom metalloproteinases, phospholipases A2, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, venom nerve growth factors, L-amino acid oxidases and vespryn, which were present at much lower abundances. Among all, short-chain alpha-neurotoxins (SαNTX) were the most highly expressed toxin within 3FTx family, constituting 65.87% of the total venom proteins. The SαNTX is the sole neurotoxic component of the venom and has an intravenous median lethal dose (LD50) of 0.18 μg/g in mice. The high abundance and low LD50 support the potent lethal activity of N. samarensis venom. The hetero-specific antivenom, Philippine Cobra Antivenom (PCAV, raised against Naja philippinensis) were immunoreactive toward the venom and its protein fractions, including the principal SαNTX. In efficacy study, PCAV was able to cross-neutralize the lethality of SαNTX albeit the effect was weak with a low potency of 0.20 mg/ml (defined as the amount of toxin completely neutralized per milliliter of the antivenom). With a volume of 5 ml, each vial of PCAV may cross-neutralize approximately 1 mg of the toxin in vivo. The findings support the potential para-specific use of PCAV in treating envenomation caused by N. samarensis while underscoring the need to improve the potency of its neutralization activity, especially against the highly lethal alpha-neurotoxins.

Papuzie węże, wężowa cykada. O międzygatunkowym podzielaniu właściwości w etnozoologiach i kosmologiach Indian i Metysów Amazonii

In this article, I present two examples of animals which, according to the Matsigenka and other native and mestizo Amazonians, share important properties with other, unre- lated (from the Western, or scientific point of view) animal species. The first example con- cerns the two-striped forest-pitviper (Bothrops bilineatus), which the Matsigenka and some other indigenous peoples associate with several species of parrots. According to the indig- enous view, there exist several „species” (ethnospecies) of the two-striped forest-pitviper, each of them sharing color patterns with particular parrot species. The second example concerns the lantern-fly (Fulgora laternaria, Fulgora spp.), an insect which in many parts of South America is considered a deadly, venomous snake in cicada-like form.

Estimating real snakebite incidence in Colombia by using mathematical modelling and statistical inference.

Snakebite envenoming is a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting mainly deprived populations. Its burden is normally underestimated because patients prefer to seek for traditional medicine. Thus, applying strategies to optimize disease' management and treatment delivery is difficult. We propose a framework to estimate snakebite incidence at a fine political scale based on available data, testing it in Colombia. First, we produced snakebite fine-scale risk maps based on the most medically important venomous snake species (Bothrops asper and B. atrox). We validated them with reported data in the country. Then, we proposed a generalized mixed effect model that estimates total incidence based on produced risk maps, poverty indexes, and an accessibility score that reflects the struggle to reach a medical center. Finally, we calibrated our model with national snakebite reported data from 2010 to 2019 using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm and estimated underreporting based on the total incidence estimation. Our results suggest that 10.3% of total snakebite cases are not reported in Colombia and do not seek medical attention. The Orinoco and Amazonian regions (east of Colombia) share a high snakebite risk with a high underreporting. Our work highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to face snakebite.

Acute Toxicity Test Of The Green Viper Snake (Trimeresurus albolabris), Macroscopic Description Of The Kidney And Liver Of Mice (Mus musculus)

According to WHO (2010), the Trimeresurus albolabris snake is a venomous snake with a high number of bite cases in Indonesia. Information on the character and level of toxicity of snake venom in Indonesia, including Trimeresurus spp. snakes, is still minimal. This study aims to determine the LD50 value (lethal dose 50), clinical symptoms, and to determine the macroscopic appearance of the liver and kidneys of mice (Mus musculus) after being injected by a the white-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) venom. The LD50 value of Trimeresurus albolabris venom injected subcutaneously into mice was 5,09 mg/kgBW. Clinical symptoms that appear increased movement activity, increased respiratory rate, lethargy, decreased activity, and reduced grooming. Macroscopic appearance of the liver that looks abnormal is found (1) color changes in the form of pale, pale yellowish, and red spots (petechiae). (2) changes in surface structure found only one liver that is not flat. (3) changes in consistency in the form of brittle easily. In the kidney that looks abnormal, found (1) changes in color in the form of pale. (2) changes in surface structure were only found in one kidney in the form of nodules. (3) changes in consistency in the form of brittle easily and soft.

Ophiophagy by banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) exposed by a road kill

Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) is a nocturnal, large bodied krait species, widely distributed throughout South and Southeast Asia. It is found at a variety of habitats with relatively large home ranges. The ophiophagous diet of this venomous snake comprises a broad spectrum of prey items, even including its congener B. caeruleus. It also preys on skinks, fish, frogs, and eggs of snakes. On 16 June 2021, at 2105 h, a fresh road-kill of an adult male B. fasciatus (total length 1.46 m) was observed on a newly constructed tarmac road (width of road ~6 m) at New Khawlek (23°19'16.00"N, 92°38'36.95"E; alt. 715 m a.s.l.), Lunglei District, Mizoram, India. It seems the krait remained vulnerably exposed on the motorway while consuming a redtail pit-viper, Trimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839) (total length 48.8 cm), and was fatally run over while busy swallowing more than half of the length of its prey, most probably a few minutes prior to our arrival at the site.

First record of the Eastern Cat Snake Boiga gocool (Gray, 1835) (Squamata: Colubridae) from Tripura, India

The Eastern cat snake Boiga gocool (Gray, 1835) was recorded for the first time in the state of Tripura. The mildly venomous snake was documented by the authors in an opportunistic survey on 12 July 2020 near the Khowai river bridge, Khowai district, Tripura (24.064N & 91.596E; 129m). This new record will help in updating the status of the herpetofauna of Tripura, India.

Venom of Viperidae: A perspective of its antibacterial and antitumor potential

: The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and limitations on cancer treatment represent two important challenges in modern medicine. Biological compounds have been explored with particular focus on venoms. Although they can be lethal or cause considerable damage to humans, venom is also a source rich in components with high therapeutic potential. Viperidae family is one of the most emblematic venomous snake families and several studies highlighted the antibacterial and antitumor potential of viper toxins. According to the literature, these activities are mainly associated to five protein families – svLAAO, Disintegrins, PLA2, SVMPs and C-type lectins- that act through different mechanisms leading to the inhibition of the growth of bacteria, as well as, cytotoxic effects and inhibition of metastasis process. In this review we provide an overview of the venom toxins produced by species belonging to the Viperidae family, exploring their roles during the envenoming and their pharmacological properties, in order to demonstrate its antibacterial and antitumor potential.