Abstract

AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL TO ANALYZE THE EFFICACY OF COMMERCIAL ANTIVENOM AGAINST HEMOTOXIC EFFECT OF INDIAN RUSSELL’S AND SAW-SCALED VIPER VENOMS

Maanoj N.S.*, Divya K., Stephen Samuel, Soundararaj C., Matthew R. Lewin, Michael A.

ABSTRACT

Snake envenoming is an under-reported health hazard that leads to fatality, especially among the rural populations. The toxicity of snake venoms differs from species to species and individual to individual also depending heavily on the susceptibility of the victim to these complex mixtures. Among the snakes of India, three kinds of clinical venom toxicity predominate in varying proportions: hemotoxic, neurotoxic and cytotoxic effects. Vipers such as Russell’s (Daboia russelii) and saw scaled (Echis carinatus) are known to cause local and systemic bleeding with regional variations in neurotoxic effects especially noted for the Daboia russelii. Venom-induced hemorrhage and coagulopathy is considered as an outstanding feature of viper snake envenomation. The treatment of snakebite is in need of improvement in order to increase the probability of good outcomes for envenomed people and livestock worldwide. Rodents are the mainstay models of antivenom efficacy testing. Herein we extend knowledge of an alternative method to study the efficacy of antivenom against the hemorrhagic activity of viper snake venoms, using embryonated chicken eggs between 4 to 7 days of age. The greater use of eggs in venom toxicology studies would result in more humane, cost effective means of improving patient care and reducing the burden on laboratory animals.

Keywords: Hemorrhage, venom, antivenom, Standard Hemorrhagic Dose.