Snake venomSnake venomBy Jeeshan Ali By Jeeshan Ali

Batch 011Batch 011

H.O.D : DR. P.L SHARMAH.O.D : DR. P.L SHARMADIRECTOR: DR. VIJAY GUPTADIRECTOR: DR. VIJAY GUPTA

Snake venom is highly modified saliva containing zootoxins Snake venom is highly modified saliva containing zootoxins that facilitates the immobilization and digestion of prey, and that facilitates the immobilization and digestion of prey, and defends against a threat. It is injected by unique fangs after defends against a threat. It is injected by unique fangs after a bite but some species are also able to spit venom.a bite but some species are also able to spit venom.

Venoms contain more than 20 different compounds, mostly Venoms contain more than 20 different compounds, mostly proteins and polypeptides and its composition is in ratio ofproteins and polypeptides and its composition is in ratio of 90 90 percent proteins and 20 percent enzymes.percent proteins and 20 percent enzymes.

A complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, and various other A complex mixture of proteins, enzymes, and various other substances with toxic and lethal properties serves to substances with toxic and lethal properties serves to immobilize the prey animal, enzymes play an important role immobilize the prey animal, enzymes play an important role in the digestion of prey, and various other substances are in the digestion of prey, and various other substances are responsible for important but non-lethal biological effects.responsible for important but non-lethal biological effects.

IntroductionIntroduction

Methods of DeliveryMethods of Delivery

Their are four main types of teeth in snakes with which venom is Their are four main types of teeth in snakes with which venom is transferred from gland to prey. While these forms seem to indicate transferred from gland to prey. While these forms seem to indicate a continual progression towards more complexity, they are a continual progression towards more complexity, they are misleading as it doesn't take into account the morphological misleading as it doesn't take into account the morphological variation in snake dentitions making for a paraphyletic occurrence variation in snake dentitions making for a paraphyletic occurrence (that is they all thought up different ways to accomplish the same (that is they all thought up different ways to accomplish the same goal). goal).

Types of Snake VenomTypes of Snake Venom

Snake venom is very interesting as it has different types that affect Snake venom is very interesting as it has different types that affect different organs of the body when a person is bitten.different organs of the body when a person is bitten.

Snake venom can be broadly categorized into many types, but the Snake venom can be broadly categorized into many types, but the most unique and interesting four are described below. most unique and interesting four are described below.

1.1. Cytotoxic VenomCytotoxic Venom

2.2. Myotoxic VenomMyotoxic Venom

3.3. Hemotoxic VenomHemotoxic Venom

4.4. Neurotoxic VenomNeurotoxic Venom

Neurotoxic VenomNeurotoxic Venom

This goes after the central nervous system and brain. It often This goes after the central nervous system and brain. It often results in respiratory paralysis and heart failures. Its effect can results in respiratory paralysis and heart failures. Its effect can range between mild seizures to death. Cobras, mambas, sea range between mild seizures to death. Cobras, mambas, sea snakes, kraits, and coral snakes are known to possess it. King snakes, kraits, and coral snakes are known to possess it. King cobras (ophiophagus hannah) are the most infamous carriers of cobras (ophiophagus hannah) are the most infamous carriers of this venom. This venom is essentially nerve destroying. Hence, this venom. This venom is essentially nerve destroying. Hence, one can see speech and swallowing difficulties, drooling, one can see speech and swallowing difficulties, drooling, difficulty in breathing, respiratory arrests, convulsions, and difficulty in breathing, respiratory arrests, convulsions, and sometimes even prolonged unconsciousness in the victims. The sometimes even prolonged unconsciousness in the victims. The milder symptoms are dizziness, tunnel vision, blurred vision, and milder symptoms are dizziness, tunnel vision, blurred vision, and increased sweating. It causes a very fast degeneration of the increased sweating. It causes a very fast degeneration of the synaptic nerves, and this is the reason for the blockage of nerve synaptic nerves, and this is the reason for the blockage of nerve impulses sent to and from the brain to the muscles.impulses sent to and from the brain to the muscles.

GENERAL SYMPTOMSGENERAL SYMPTOMS

A neurotoxin venom works to disrupt the A neurotoxin venom works to disrupt the function of the brain and nervous system. function of the brain and nervous system.

Causes paralysis or lack of muscle Causes paralysis or lack of muscle control.control.

Disrupt the individual signals sent between Disrupt the individual signals sent between neurons and muscles. neurons and muscles.

It attacks the body's supply of ATP, a It attacks the body's supply of ATP, a nucleotide which is critical in energy nucleotide which is critical in energy transfer between cells.transfer between cells.

Cytotoxic Cytotoxic VenomVenom

This is a milder form that generally causes only localized This is a milder form that generally causes only localized symptoms (at the location of the bite). It is a cell destroying symptoms (at the location of the bite). It is a cell destroying poison that eradicates everything in its path - blood vessels, poison that eradicates everything in its path - blood vessels, cells, and tissues. The symptoms of the invasion of this venom cells, and tissues. The symptoms of the invasion of this venom are generally seen around 10-15 minutes after the bite. The are generally seen around 10-15 minutes after the bite. The symptoms are generally a localized pain accompanied by severe symptoms are generally a localized pain accompanied by severe swelling and bleeding. One can easily spot the formation of red swelling and bleeding. One can easily spot the formation of red blisters near the bite area. This venom causes blue/black blisters near the bite area. This venom causes blue/black spotting due to limited blood circulation. The body often revolts spotting due to limited blood circulation. The body often revolts against the invasion of this venom by causing nausea and against the invasion of this venom by causing nausea and vomiting. If not treated within four hours, it generally needs an vomiting. If not treated within four hours, it generally needs an amputation. Puff adders (bitis arietans) usually contain this amputation. Puff adders (bitis arietans) usually contain this venom.venom.

Myotoxic VenomMyotoxic Venom

This venom is found in the bothrops moojeni, commonly known This venom is found in the bothrops moojeni, commonly known as the Brazilian lancehead snake. It is known to cause as the Brazilian lancehead snake. It is known to cause muscular necrosis. Its symptoms are a thickened-tongue muscular necrosis. Its symptoms are a thickened-tongue sensation, dry throat, thirst, muscular spasms, and convulsions. sensation, dry throat, thirst, muscular spasms, and convulsions. It also causes a stiffness of the jaw, neck, trunk, and limbs, It also causes a stiffness of the jaw, neck, trunk, and limbs, along with severe pain in movement. The symptoms often start along with severe pain in movement. The symptoms often start with drooping eyelids and then turn to more austere results like with drooping eyelids and then turn to more austere results like loss of breath and blackish brown urine discharge. This venom loss of breath and blackish brown urine discharge. This venom contains peptides that destroy the muscle fiber proteins and contains peptides that destroy the muscle fiber proteins and result in myonecrosis (muscle destruction). In the very later result in myonecrosis (muscle destruction). In the very later stages (when treatment is delayed), the muscle proteins enter the stages (when treatment is delayed), the muscle proteins enter the blood stream. The kidney overworks in trying to filter out this blood stream. The kidney overworks in trying to filter out this junk and often gives up trying. Kidney failure is the reason for junk and often gives up trying. Kidney failure is the reason for the dark coloration of urine.the dark coloration of urine.

HemotoxicHemotoxic VenomVenom

This attacks the cardiovascular system, circulatory system, and muscle This attacks the cardiovascular system, circulatory system, and muscle tissues, thus directly leading to heart failure. The crotalus atrox, tissues, thus directly leading to heart failure. The crotalus atrox, notoriously known as the western diamondback rattlesnake, uses this notoriously known as the western diamondback rattlesnake, uses this deadly venom to make its prey more pliable. This venom leads to blood deadly venom to make its prey more pliable. This venom leads to blood poisoning and affects the blood clotting mechanism to such a grave extent poisoning and affects the blood clotting mechanism to such a grave extent that the victim can die of internal bleeding. Usually, no pain nor any other that the victim can die of internal bleeding. Usually, no pain nor any other symptoms can be observed for almost 1 - 3 hours (sometimes even 8). This symptoms can be observed for almost 1 - 3 hours (sometimes even 8). This makes it deadlier, as the victim is usually beyond medical help by the time makes it deadlier, as the victim is usually beyond medical help by the time the cause is even ascertained. The symptoms are lethargy, headaches, the cause is even ascertained. The symptoms are lethargy, headaches, nausea, vomiting, etc. Some of the scariest symptoms of a snakebite of this nausea, vomiting, etc. Some of the scariest symptoms of a snakebite of this kind are bruising or blood spots beneath the victim's skin. In worst cases, kind are bruising or blood spots beneath the victim's skin. In worst cases, blood is known to ooze out from all possible bodily openings. It is these blood is known to ooze out from all possible bodily openings. It is these venoms that usually cause excessive (and hideous) scarring, gangrene, and venoms that usually cause excessive (and hideous) scarring, gangrene, and permanent or temporary loss of motor skills. It can even result in the permanent or temporary loss of motor skills. It can even result in the amputation of the affected limb.amputation of the affected limb.

TYPICAL SNAKE BITESTYPICAL SNAKE BITES

TREATMENTTREATMENT Snake venom is not dangerous if medical treatment is speedily provided. Snake venom is not dangerous if medical treatment is speedily provided.

Where it is not possible to get medical aid quickly, it is always advisable to be Where it is not possible to get medical aid quickly, it is always advisable to be aware of the first aid measures. Some important things to remember are, never aware of the first aid measures. Some important things to remember are, never make any incisions in the bite area and never try to suck out the venom orally, make any incisions in the bite area and never try to suck out the venom orally, as these methods can do more harm than good. Also, immediately call a doctor. as these methods can do more harm than good. Also, immediately call a doctor. You can also speak to your doctor and inquire about keeping an anti snake You can also speak to your doctor and inquire about keeping an anti snake venom at home as a precaution if you live in an area where venomous snakes venom at home as a precaution if you live in an area where venomous snakes are common.are common.

If the bite is not serious, the doctor may simply clean the wound and give the If the bite is not serious, the doctor may simply clean the wound and give the victim a tetanus vaccine. victim a tetanus vaccine.

If the situation If the situation isis life threatening, the doctor may administer an antivenom. life threatening, the doctor may administer an antivenom. This is a substance that is created with snake venom to counter the snake bite This is a substance that is created with snake venom to counter the snake bite symptoms. It is injected into the victim intravenously. The sooner the antivenom symptoms. It is injected into the victim intravenously. The sooner the antivenom is used, the more effective it will be. is used, the more effective it will be.

GENERAL MEASURESGENERAL MEASURES

Keep the victim calm and still. Movement can cause the Keep the victim calm and still. Movement can cause the venom to move more quickly through the body. Consider venom to move more quickly through the body. Consider making a splint to restrict the movement of the affected making a splint to restrict the movement of the affected area. area.

Remove constricting clothing or jewelry. The area of the Remove constricting clothing or jewelry. The area of the bite will likely swell, so it is important to remove these bite will likely swell, so it is important to remove these items quickly. items quickly.

Carry or transport the victim by vehicle. This person Carry or transport the victim by vehicle. This person should not be allowed to walk. should not be allowed to walk.

If the snake is dead, take it with you for identification. If the snake is dead, take it with you for identification. Do not waste time hunting it down, though. Do not waste time hunting it down, though.

Do not do any of the following:Do not do any of the following:

Do not use a tourniquet. Do not use a tourniquet. Do not cut into the snake bite. Do not cut into the snake bite. Do not use a cold compress on the bite. Do not use a cold compress on the bite. Do not give the victim any medications unless directed Do not give the victim any medications unless directed

by a doctor. by a doctor. Do not raise the area of the bite above the victim’s heart. Do not raise the area of the bite above the victim’s heart. Do not attempt to suck the venom out by mouth.Do not attempt to suck the venom out by mouth. Do not use a pump suction device. While these devices Do not use a pump suction device. While these devices

were formerly recommended for pumping out snake were formerly recommended for pumping out snake venom, it is now believed that they are more likely to do venom, it is now believed that they are more likely to do harm than good. harm than good.

PMA FOR SNAKE BITEPMA FOR SNAKE BITE

Use of snake venoms to treat Various Use of snake venoms to treat Various diseasedisease

Given that snake venom contains many biologically ingredients, Given that snake venom contains many biologically ingredients, some may be useful to treat disease.some may be useful to treat disease.

For instance, Phospholipases type A2 (PLA2s) from the For instance, Phospholipases type A2 (PLA2s) from the Tunisian vipers Tunisian vipers Cerastes cerastesCerastes cerastes and and MacroviperalebetinaMacroviperalebetina has has been found to have been found to have anti-tumoranti-tumor activity. Anti-cancer activity activity. Anti-cancer activity has been also reported for other compounds in snake venom.has been also reported for other compounds in snake venom.

Phospholipases A2 hydrolyze phospholipids and thus could act on Phospholipases A2 hydrolyze phospholipids and thus could act on bacterial cell surfaces, providing novel bacterial cell surfaces, providing novel antimicrobialantimicrobial (antibiotic) (antibiotic) activities.activities.

The The analgesic analgesic (pain-killing) activity of many snake venom (pain-killing) activity of many snake venom proteins has been long known. The main challenge, however, is to proteins has been long known. The main challenge, however, is to deliver protein to the nerve cells as proteins usually are not deliver protein to the nerve cells as proteins usually are not applicable as pills.applicable as pills.