Severe Neurotoxic Envenoming and Cardiac Complications after the Bite of a ‘Sind Krait’ (<i>Bungarus </i>cf. <i>sindanus</i>) in Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT

We report a case of severe envenoming with unusual complications and two anecdotal cases of fatalities following proven 17-scale-row ‘Sind krait’ (<i>Bungarus</i> cf. <i>sindanus</i>) bites on people sleeping in temporary huts at construction sites in Pune District, Maharashtra, India. A 25-yr-old male developed progressive neuromuscular paralysis, abdominal pain and autonomic disturbances complicated by four prolonged episodes of pulseless ventricular tachycardia requiring defibrillation, and followed by pulmonary edema secondary to impaired left ventricular systolic function and hyperfusion. There was no response to antivenom; mechanical ventilation was required for six days. Only one other case of fatal envenoming likely caused by this species had been reported previously in India. The distribution of <i>B. sindanus</i> sensu lato from eastern Afghanistan to India overlaps with that of the superficially very similar common krait (<i>Bungarus caeruleus</i>). Thus, <i>B.</i> cf. <i>sindanus</i> envenoming may be common but routinely overlooked or misdiagnosed.