Management of Eastern Brown and Tiger snake envenomation in domestic animals in South Australia

Published 6th April 2018Aims: The aims of this study were to examine the key important clinical features in domestic animals (e.g. dogs and cats) accompanying envenomation by eastern brown or tiger snakes in South Australia, to establish whether routine use of snake venom detection kits (SVDKs) is a useful diagnostic approach for identifying offending snake species and help to improve animal’s condition and survival. Methodology: Clinical records from 155 dogs and cats, with suspected or confirmed snake envenomation were collected from two veterinary practices in South Australia. Chi-square analysis was used to compare patient outcome with diagnostic method, and descriptive analysis were undertaken to compare features between the envenomation cases. Results: Brown snakes were responsible for 97% of cases, with the remaining 3% due to tiger snakes. The most common presenting signs were recumbency and hind limb paresis. Patients were 20% less likely to survive when diagnosis of the offending snake species was made by means other than the use of a SVDK. An inconclusive result occurred approximately 14% of the time when using a SVDK. The overall survival rate for cases that were treated was 81% in dogs and 92% in cats. Conclusion: Species-specific snake diagnosis using a SVDK will lead to improved patient outcome, however care is required when performing and interpreting the test due to a high proportion of contradictory results obtained.Madeleine J. Wright and Suong N. T. Ng

Molecular insights into xenobiotic disposition in Australian marsupials

During the past two decades, studies of xenobiotic detoxification by molecular biology in diverse organisms have identified many novel environmental adaptations, providing valuable insight into habitat, dietary preferences and general physiology. While xenobiotic detoxification has been extensively studied in eutherian mammals, metabolic data concerning detoxification in Australian marsupials are limited, particularly at the molecular level of the enzymes involved. At present Australia relies heavily on overseas data to determine the possible outcomes of xenobiotic exposure in Australian native fauna. Unlike eutherian mammals, many marsupial herbivores ingest and absorb large amounts of dietary Eucalyptus terpenes. Such quantities would be toxic, even potentially fatal, to human and many other mammalian species. Specialist Eucalyptus herbivores, such as koalas and brushtail possums, have been hypothesised to utilise highly efficient enzyme systems to metabolise terpenes to non-toxic substances that can be readily excreted in the urine. Enzymes that carry out the biotransformation of Eucalyptus terpenes have been partially identified to be the cytochromes P450 (CYP). The aim of this review is to provide a summary of work being undertaken over several years in our laboratories that has provided unique insights into marsupial biology. The focuses of this study are phase I and phase II metabolisms in these unique animals, the multiplicity of metabolising enzymes/pathways involved, induction/inhibition of CYPs/other enzymes by dietary Eucalyptus terpenes and to update current knowledge of xenobiotic metabolism in Australian marsupials. The important role of marsupial genome studies in identifying evolutionary relationships and functions for mammalian genes as well as in conservation, ecology and pest management of marsupial species is also briefly highlighted