Venom and
Antivenom
Herpetoculture
Pensacola Jr College
Types of Venomous
Snakes
w Aglyph
w Opisthoglyph
w Proteroglyph
w Solenoglyph
1. Aglyphs
w Homodont maxillary teeth
w No venom
w Boids, pythons, most
colubrids
Python skull
Tree Python (an
aglyph)
Mole Snake skull
(aglyph)
2. Opisthoglyphs
w No hollow fangs, enlarged
rear teeth with or without grooves
w Venom -- Duvernoys gland
Immobilizes prey
Aids digestion
Small volume delivered
slowly
Usually not toxic to humans
w A few colubrids
Boomslang skull
(opisthoglyph)
Sandsnake
(opisthoglyph)
3. Proteroglyphs
w Long maxilla with single pair
of hollow fixed fangs, other teeth behind
w Small venom glands:
Highly concentrated
neurotoxic venom
Instant prey paralization
w Adapted for elongated prey
w
Elapids
Cobra skull (proteroglyph)
Mamba
(proteroglyph)
4. Solenoglyphs
w Maxilla extremely reduced, rotates
on prefrontal, and has one pair of hollow fangs
w Huge venom glands:
Slower acting venom, usually
hemotoxic
Large muscles for injection
w Adapted for high weight prey
w vipers
Puff Adder skull
(solenoglyph)
Gland and Hollow
Fang
Desert Viper
(solenoglyph)
Snake Venom
w Made up of approx. 20
different proteins / enzymes
w Each species usually has 6
12 of these enzymes
w Types and amounts of enzymes
present determine:
Toxicity level of snake
Hemotoxic vs. neurotoxic
Venom Enzymes
Types of Venom
w Neurotoxin
w Hemotoxin
1. Neurotoxin
w Lots of short proteins
w Goes directly into nervous
system and blocks neuromuscular transmission (pain reduction)
w Victim paralyzed
w Respiratory system and heart
function shut down
2. Hemotoxin
w Lots of enzymes that break
down other proteins (extremely painful)
w Digestion of body tissues
w Often causes blood clotting
OR acts as anticoagulent
w Slow acting
Antivenom /
Antivenin
w Antibodies against the
venom, to fight its effects
Obtaining
Antivenom
w Milk snakes of their venom
w Inject increasing amounts of
the venom into horses or sheep (primarily Percherons)
w Collect blood from them
w Extract the serum from blood
w Concentrate the antivenom
Milking a Snake
Antivenom Types:
w Monovalent antivenom
w Polyvalent antivenom
1. Monovalent
antivenom
w Obtained using venom from
one species of snake
w May be applicable against
venom of closely related species
w More effective
2. Polyvalent
antivenom
w Obtained using venom from a
variety of snakes within a region
w May be applicable against
venom of any snake from that region within a venom type
w Less effective
Using Antivenom
w Premedicate patient with
adrenaline, subcutaneous
w Antivenom diluted (usually 1
to 10) and given I.V.
w Watch for allergic reactions
Antihistamine and steroids
given for reactions
w Prednisone for 5 days to
prevent serum sickness
How much
antivenom?
w Quantity does NOT vary by
patient (sex, age, weight, etc)
w Quantity dependent on:
Type of snake
Amount of venom injected
w Minimal evenomation may be
better without antivenom
Online Bite
Protocols
Venomous Snake
Handling
w Snake hook / field hook
w Snake tongs or clamps
w Head block
w Clear cast acrylic tubing
Snake hook
Pilstrom Tongs
Acrylic Tubing