Fatal neurotoxic envenomation following the bite of a greater black krait (Bungarus niger) in Nepal: a case report

Neurotoxic envenomation following bites by kraits (Bungarus species) is a leading cause of snakebite mortality in South Asia. Over a long time, this had been attributed only to one species, the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus). However, recent research has provided increasing evidence of the involvement of several krait species. Here, we report a fatal case of neurotoxic envenomation following the bite of a greater black krait (Bungarus niger) in Nepal. Case presentation A 33-year-old man was bitten in the outdoor corridor of his home in the eastern hills of Ilam district while handling a snake he thought to be non-venomous. He subsequently developed severe abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, and signs of neurotoxic envenomation leading to respiratory paralysis. The patient did not respond to Indian polyvalent antivenom given 4 h after the bite and died under treatment 8 h after the bite. This is the second time that a B. niger was observed in Nepal, the first documented case of envenomation by this species in the country and the sixth reported case worldwide. Conclusions Previous distribution records from eastern India and western Nepal, from western hills in Nepal, and from lowland localities in India and Bangladesh indicate risk of envenomation by B. niger throughout the low and intermediate elevations of Nepal up to at least 1,500 m above sea level. As very few people in Nepal bring killed snakes to healthcare centers and because there is a general belief among local people that there are no kraits in the hills, bites by B. niger are likely to be misdiagnosed and underreported.

Quadros clínico-patológicos do envenenamento ofídico por Crotalus durissus terrificus e Bothrops spp: em animais de produção / Clinical and pathological pictures of snakebite poisoning by Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops spp: in livestock

Foi realizada uma revisão dos quadros clínico-patológicos causados pelos venenos de Crotalus durissus terrificus e Bothrops spp. em bovinos, búfalos, ovinos equinos e suínos. Foram compilados os dados obtidos pela experimentação em animais de produção encontrados na literatura e os obtidos através de experimentação realizada por nossa equipe. Também foram revisados os casos naturais de envenenamento ofídico comunicados. Em dois Quadros foram lançados os mais importantes dados dessas revisões, que revelou diversos aspectos interessantes: 1) em nossos experimentos, o veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus, quando injetado por via subcutânea em cavalos, causou um edema acentuado no local da aplicação, ao contrário do que tem sido observado em todas as outras espécies animais, aspecto não relatado na literatura; 2) em nossos experimentos, o veneno de diversas espécies de Bothrops, quando injetado por via subcutânea em bovinos, ovinos e equinos, não causou edema como em geral é relatado na literatura, e sim hemorragias subcutâneas acentuadas no local da aplicação. Nos casos não fatais este sangue era reabsorvido em poucos dias sem deixar sequelas. Exceção foi a reação ao veneno de Bothrops jararacussu, que causou edema nos ovinos experimentais, e tumefação acentuada que resultou em fístula com eliminação de líquido seroso nos equinos experimentais. O objetivo do presente estudo visa contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento do diagnóstico de acidentes ofídicos em animais de produção.

A review was performed about the clinical and pathological pictures caused by the venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus and Bothrops spp. in cattle, buffaloes, horses, sheep and swine. The data were compiled from experiments in livestock species found in the literature, from experimentation accomplished by our research group, and from communicated natural cases of snakebite poisoning. The most important data were placed on two Tables, the analysis of which revealed some interesting aspects: (1) in our experiments the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus caused in horses severe edema at the site of subcutaneous injection, to the contrary as observed in all other experimental animal species, an aspect not recorded in the literature; (2) in our experiments the venom of Bothrops species in cattle, sheep and horses, injected subcutaneously, did not cause edema as generally reported in the literature, but caused severe subcutaneous hemorrhages at the injection site. In the non fatal cases the blood was reabsorbed in a few days without leaving sequelae; exception was the reaction to the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, which caused edema in the experimental sheep, and severe tumefaction resulting in fistulous elimination of serous liquid in the experimental horses. The aim of this study was to contribute for the diagnostic of snakebite accidents in livestock.

Effect of snake venom on nucleic acids and total proteins in various normal and cancerous animal tissues

Venoms have occasional medical uses. This study was carried out to determine effect of cobra snake venom on nucleic acid and total proteins in various normal and cancerous animal tissues. In this in vitro study the venom with varying concentrations was incubated with homogenates of liver, heart and kidney of normal tissues. Reduction in RNA / DNA levels was observed. Our results indicate that nucleic acids are more sensitive. However the effect of snake venom on normal skin tissue was insignificant when compared with cancerous tissue. The dose response curve shows that the lowest concentration of venom at 25 micro g / ml [a survival dose] produced maximum inhibition of both nucleic acids. The opposite and linear response was observed in protein contents. It can be assumed from the present study that the venom might have therapeutic effect at a dose of 25 micro g /ml in cancerous tissues

Hemorragía del sistema nervioso central y emponsoñamiento ofidico bothropico: modificado por anticuagulantes orales a propósito de un caso / Hemohrrage of the central nervous system and poisoning type bothrops: modification for anticoagulants oral a purpose of a case

El empozoñamiento en Venezuela es bastante frecuente. Tenemos tres tipos de serpientes: Bothrops, Crotabus y Lachesi. El caso que presentamos es del tipo Bothrops en una mujer de 66 años de edad con historia de ingestión de anticoagulantes orales y presenta complicaciones secundarios al empozoñamiento ofídico asociado a la anticoagulación vía oral

Preliminary study of the intense sympathetic discharge induced centrally after lateral ventricular administration of whole venom of Dendroaspis polylepis.

Lateral ventricular administration of 100 microgram of Dendroaspis polylepis venom is cats consistently produced a marked rise in arterial blood pressure, heart rate dilatation of pupils and piloerection. This intense central sympathetic discharge occurred after a latent period of 11.7 +/- 0.72 min. Bilateral adrenelectomy abolished the sympathetic discharge showing that central release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla may play an important role in elicting the cardiovascular response.