Maintaining rear-fanged snakes for venom production: an evaluation of mortality and survival rates for Philodryas olfersii and P. patagoniensis in captivity

This study evaluates the mortality and average survival rates of captive female Philodryas olfersii and Philodryas patagoniensis snakes maintained for venom production. Also, two factors likely to reduce captive survival were studied - body condition at admission and seasonality. Mortality peaks occurred during the second month in captivity. More than half the individuals were dead at the end of the third month. This suggests that the first three months in captivity are the most critical in terms of survival and adaptation. Females collected and admitted during spring and summer lived less time than those collected in autumn and winter. As gravidity and egg-laying occur during spring and summer, we suggest that the lower survival rates in these seasons may be due to high costs and stress involved in these reproductive events. Unexpectedly, body mass and body condition were poor predictors of survival in captivity. Our results have important implications in maintaining snakes for venom production. We propose some prophylactic measures to minimize the deleterious impacts of captivity during the adaptation period

Distribution of 131I-labeled Bothrops erythromelas venom in mice

Bothrops erythromelas is responsible for many snake bites in northeastern Brazil. In the present study we determined the in vivo distribution of the venom following its subcutaneous injection into mice. B. erythromelas venom and albumin were labeled individually with 131I by the chloramine T method, and separated in a Sephacryl® S-200 column. The efficiency of labeling was 68%. Male Swiss mice (40-45 g), which had been provided with drinking water containing 0.05% KI over a period of 10 days prior to the experiment, were inoculated dorsally (sc) with 0.3 ml (2.35 x 105 cpm/mouse) of 131I-venom (N = 42), 131I-albumin or 131I (controls, N = 28 each). Thirty minutes and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after inoculation, the animals were perfused with 0.85% NaCl and skin and various organs were collected in order to determine radioactivity content. There was a high rate of venom absorption in the skin (51%) within the first 30 min compared to albumin (20.1%) and free iodine (8.2%). Up to the third hour after injection there was a tendency for venom and albumin to concentrate in the stomach (3rd h), small intestine (3rd h) and large intestine (6th h). Both control groups had more radioactivity in the digestive tract, especially in the stomach, but these levels decreased essentially to baseline by 12-18 h postinjection. In the kidneys, the distribution profiles of venom, albumin and iodine were similar. Counts at 30 min postinjection were low in all three groups (1.37, 1.86 and 0.77, respectively), and diminished to essentially 0% by 12-18 h. Albumin tended to concentrate in muscle until the 3rd h postinjection (1.98%). There was a low binding of labeled venom in the liver (<0.54%), thyroid (<0.11%) and lungs (<0.08%), and no iodinated venom was detected in brain, heart, diaphragm, spleen or bladder. The low venom binding observed in most internal organs, comparable to that of albumin, suggests that B. erythromelas venom does not specifically target most internal organs. That is, the systemic effects of envenomation are mainly due to an indirect actio

Comparison of Bothropoides jararaca bites with and without envenoming treated at the Vital Brazil Hospital of the Butantan Institute, State of São Paulo, Brazil Comparação dos acidentes causados por Bothropoides jararaca com e sem envenenamento atendidos no Hospital Vital Brazil do Instituto Butantan, Estado de São Paulo

INTRODUCTION: This study analyses the cases of all bites (including dry bites) caused by Bothropoides jararaca attended at the Vital Brazil Hospital of the Butantan Institute, State of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of patients bitten by Bothropoides jararaca (n=792) from January 1990 to December 2004. The characteristics of the snake specimen, data related to the accident and clinical manifestations on admission were obtained from patient medical records. RESULTS: The majority of the cases in this study were caused by female and juvenile snakes. No stomach contents were found in 93.4% of the snake specimens after dissection. No statistical difference was observed between the occurrence of dry bites and the maturity or sex of the snake. The median SVL of snakes in mild and moderate cases was 40.5cm and in severe cases, SVL increased to 99cm. Necrosis was more common in the digits of the feet and hands (4.8%) compared to the other body regions (1.8%). A significant difference was verified between severity and a time interval greater than six hours from the bite to hospital admission. A significant association was verified between gingival bleeding and abnormal blood coagulability. In accidents caused by adult snakes, necrosis was more frequent (7.2%) compared to accidents caused by juvenile snakes (1%). CONCLUSIONS: In this work, the association between certain epidemiological data and the evolution of biological parameters in the clinical course of Bothrops sensu latu accidents were highlighted, contributing to the improvement of snake bite assistance.<br>INTRODUÇÃO: Neste estudo, analisou-se todos os casos de picadas (incluindo picadas secas) causadas por Bothropoides jararaca atendidos no Hospital Vital Brazil do Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo em que foram incluídos pacientes atendidos no Hospital Vital Brazil do Instituto Butantan, picados por serpentes da espécie Bothropoides jararaca (nº=792) entre 1990 a 2004. Os dados foram obtidos através de prontuários médicos. RESULTADOS: No presente estudo, a maioria dos acidentes foi causada por serpentes fêmeas e filhotes. Não havia presença de conteúdo estomacal em 93,4% das serpentes dissecadas. Não houve diferença estatística entre a ocorrência de picada seca e o sexo da serpente. O comprimento rostro cloacal das serpentes nos casos leves e moderados foram 40,5cm e nos casos severos 99cm. Necrose foi mais comum nos dedos dos pés e das mãos (4,8%) em comparação com outras regiões do corpo (1,8%). Houve diferença estatística entre a gravidade e o intervalo de tempo entre a picada e a admissão hospitalar superior a seis horas. Encontramos uma associação significativa entre gengivorragia e incoagulabilidade sanguínea. Nos acidentes causados por serpentes adultas, a necrose foi mais frequente (7,2%) quando comparado aos acidentes causados por serpentes filhotes (1%). CONCLUSÕES: Neste estudo, destaca-se a associação entre os dados epidemiológicos e biológicos em relação à evolução do quadro clínico nos acidentes botrópicos, contribuindo para a melhoria da assistência nos acidentes ofídicos

Fatores associados à incoagulabilidade sangüínea no envenenamento por serpentes do gênero Bothrops Risk factors associated with coagulation abnormalities in Bothrops envenoming

Com o objetivo de conhecer fatores associados à incoagulabilidade sangüínea no envenenamento botrópico, foram obtidas informações de 2.991 prontuários médicos de pacientes atendidos no Instituto Butantan de 1981 a 1990. Associaram-se positivamente à incoagulabilidade sangüínea (p<0,05): picadas no final do ano e em extremidades dos membros inferiores; dor, edema e equimose local; hemorragia e choque; dose de antiveneno; tempo do acidente à chegada ao Instituto Butantan. Associaram-se negativamente à incoagulabilidade (p<0,05): tamanho de Bothrops jararaca; uso de torniquete; tempo entre a chegada ao Instituto Butantan e o início da administração do antiveneno. Não se associaram à incoagulabilidade (p>0,05): horário do acidente; presença de presa recém-deglutida no tubo digestivo da serpente; sexo e idade do paciente; ocorrência de bolha, necrose, abscesso e incisão local, amputação, insuficiência renal e óbito. Pode-se concluir que, embora a incoagulabilidade sangüínea apresente associação com manifestações precoces do envenenamento, não tem boa associação com a evolução clínica do paciente.<br>This study aimed at assessing, in the envenoming by Bothrops, factors that are associated with blood incoagulability. Information was obtained from the charts of 2,991 patients admitted to Instituto Butantan, from 1981 to 1990. Factors positively associated with blood incoagulability (p<0.05) were: snake bite in the late months of the year; bites in the distal segments of the lower limbs; pain, edema, and bruising at the bite site; systemic bleeding and shock; dose of antivenom administered; time between bite and admission to Instituto Butantan. Size of the snake Bothrops jararaca; use of a tourniquet; and time between arrival to Instituto Butantan and start of the antivenom administration were negatively associated with blood incoagulability (p<0,05). Factors not associated with blood incoagulability (p>0.05) were: time of the bite; presence of recently swallowed prey in the snake gut; gender and age of the patient; blister, necrosis, and abscess at the bite site; occurrence of amputation, renal failure and death; presence of an incision at the bite site. We conclude that although blood incoagulability is associated with early manifestations of Bothrops envenoming, it is not associated with the clinical outcome