Bungarus (krait) envenomings are well-known for their life-threatening neurotoxic effects. However, their
impact on coagulation remains largely unexplored experimentally or clinically. This study, examined the
effect of begins to examine venoms from four Bungarus species—B. caeruleus, B. candidus, B. fasciatus,
and B. flaviceps on human platelet poor plasma coagulation parameters using thromboelastography and
coagulation inhibition assays. B. flaviceps completely inhibited clotting, while B. caeruleus only delayed
clot formation. In contrast, B. candidus and B. fasciatus did not affect clotting. Subsequent examinations
into the anticoagulant biochemical mechanisms demonstrated divergent pathphysiological pathways. B.
caeruleus venom anticoagulant effects were prevented by the addition of an excess of phospholipids, with
anticoagulation thereby the result of phospholipid depletion. In contrast B. flaviceps anticoagulation was
not affected by the addition of an excess of phospholipids. Further investigations demonstrated that B.
flaviceps mediates its anticoagulant toxicity through the inactivation of coagulation enzymes. The
anticoagulant effects of both B. flaviceps and B. caeruleus were nullified by varespladib, a phospholipase
A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, revealing the toxin class involved. These results uncover previously unrecognized and
unexplored anticoagulant effects of Bungarus venoms
