The document discusses snakes, providing their characteristics, classification, venom apparatus, venom composition and effects, symptoms of bites, treatment methods, and antivenom production. It describes three families of poisonous snakes - Elapidae, Viperidae, and Hydrophidae - and details specific snakes in each family like cobras, kraits, and saw-scaled vipers. The document also outlines signs and symptoms of bites, management of bites, and investigations used to diagnose and monitor envenomation.
4. OBJECTIVES
• Characteristics of Reptilia
• Systematic position of Snake
• Characteristics of Snake
• Biting Mechanism
• Snake Venom
• Effect of Venom
• Antivenine
• Poisonous Snakes of South India
• Management & Treatment
5. CHARACTERISTICS OF REPTILIA
Disliked animal group
First Land Vertebrates
Creeping Animals
Bilaterally Symmetry
Herpetology
Poikilotherms
Dry & Scales
Two Pairs of limbs
Heart – 3 Chambers
Respiration – lungs
Carnivores
Uricotelic Animals
Sexual Dimorphism
Fertilization is Internal
Oviparous/Viviparous
Parental Care is absent
6. INTRODUCTION
• In Sanskrit snakes – Chakshu shravaa
• In World, 300/3000 species of snakes
• 30000 to 40000 persons die of snake
bite in the world every year (WHO)
• In India, 69/330 species of snakes
• 15000 to 20000 persons die of snake
bite in the world every year (WHO)
11. • Lower Jaw are
loosely Connected
• Pectoral Girdle is
absent
• Bones are also
movable
• There is no sternum
• Ribs are free
12.
13. SNAKE VENOM
Yellow or Greenish colour
Complex mixture of various enzymes and
specific toxins
Digestive juice
90% protein
Have 25 different enzymes found in
various venoms and 10 of these occur
frequently in most venoms
14. Cont…
Synergistic in effects: different venoms
contain different combinations of enzymes
causing a more potent effect than any of
the individual effects
16. Toxins:
• α- bungarotoxin, β- bungarotoxin, Crotoxin,
Crotamine, Cardiotoxin.
Peptide - Pyroglutamyl peptide
Nucleoside - Adenine, Guanine, Inosine.
Lipid - Phospholipid, Cholestrol
Amine – Histamine – engage the pathogen
infection
Serotonin – affect the brain function
Metal - Cu,Zn,Ni,Mg.
17. Mechanism of Toxicity of Venom
• The most common types of enzymes are
proteolytic, phospholipases and
hyaluronidases
– Proteolytic Enzymes: digestive properties
– Phospholipases: degrade lipids
– Hyaluronidases: facilitates venom spread through
out the body
18. Antivenom (Antivenine)
• Prepared from the blood of a horse, sheep, goat, or
rabbit
• Repeated injections for 6 months
• Doses are gradually increased
• Animal will undergo an immune response to the
venom, producing antibodies against the venom
• Collection of blood and serum separated
• Used to treat envenomation.
MILKING THE SNAKE TO MAKE
ANTI VENOM.
20. 1. ELAPIDAE
Naja naja (Cobra)
• Seen through out India,
Burma, Srilanka
• Brown/Black – 6 feet
• Well marked hood
• Single (monocellate) or
double spectacle mark
• Oviparous
21.
22. 1. ELAPIDAE
Naja Hannah (King Cobra)
• Largest Poisonous Snake in
the World – 18 feet
• Thick vegetation
• Dark Brown/Dark Black with
cross bands
• Feeds on other snakes
• Deadly poisonous
23. 1. ELAPIDAE
Bungarus (Krait)
• The fangs are short
and fixed.
• Steel blue coloured
with white cross bands.
• Hexagonal scales
• Nocturnal
24. 1. ELAPIDAE
Micrurus (Coral Snakes)
• Very colorful stripe
pattern
• Black nose
• 5 feet
• Round pupils like
most non-venomous
snakes
25. 2. VIPERIDAE
A). Pitless Vipers: They are
a) Russel ‘s Viper
b) Saw-scaled Viper
B). Pit Vipers: They are
a) Pit Viper- Crotalidae
b) Common Green Pit Viper
26. 2. VIPERIDAE
Vipera russelli (Pitless Viper)
• Large mobile fangs
• Diamond-shaped
markings
• Brown in colour, elliptical
patches in three rows on
body
• Triangular head
• Viviparous
• Nocturnal
27. 2. VIPERIDAE
Echis carinata
(Saw Scaled Viper)
• Poor vegetation
• Small snake – 2 feet
• Brown colour with white
patches
• Arrow shaped marked
28. 3. HYDROPHIDAE
Hydrophis (Sea Snake)
• 20 types of sea snakes
found in India.
• All are poisonous
• Tail is Oar shaped
• Myotoxic
• Ovoviviparous
29. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COBRA
AND VIPER
Traits Cobra Viper
Body Usually long and
cylindrical
Usually short and stout
Head Small and covered with
large scales
Larger and broader than body,
covered with small scales
Eye It has round pupil It has vertical pupil
Fangs. Short, fine and fixed Long, movable and strong,
Eggs Oviparous Viviparous
Tail Round Tapering
Venom Neurotoxic mainly Hemotoxic usually
30. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Bites by Elapidae - Symptoms
● More virulent, attacking nerve centre's (Paralysis)
● Swelling, local pain & local necrosis (Cobra )
● Ptosis – Drooping of the upper eye lid
● Diplopia – double vision
● Ophthalmoplegia – Paralysis of the eye muscles
● Stomach pain ( Krait )
● Destruction of RBC
● Krait bites – present in early morning with paralysis
– can be mistaken for STROKE .
33. Bites by Viperidae
Symptoms
● Severe local effects – as early as within 15 min of
bite
● Extensive Swelling – spreading quickly to involve
whole limb.
● Necrosis – destruction of tissue
● Hemostatic abnormality
● Abdominal Pain
● Passage of reddish/dark brown
urine/diminishing/ nil urine output
● Low back pain , indicative of early renal failure
● Renal failure – Viper
34.
35. Bites by Hydrophidae
Symptoms
Local swelling
Rhabdomyolysis – damage of skeletal muscle
Myalgia – Muscle pain
Muscle stiffness
Myoglobinuria - Presence of myoglobin in the
urine
Paralysis (inability to move) legs
Excessive saliva production
36. Summary of Manifestations
Feature Cobras Kraits Russells
Viper
Saw
Scaled
Viper
Hump
Nosed
Viper
Local Pain/ Tissue Damage YES NO YES YES YES
Ptosis/ Neurological Signs YES YES YES! NO NO
Haemostatic abnormalities NO NO! YES YES YES
Renal Complications NO NO YES NO YES
Response to Neostigmine YES NO? NO? NO NO
Response to ASV YES YES YES YES NO
39. Site of snake bites
50%
32%
10%
8%
Lower limb
Upper limb
Eyebrow,abdomen,ear,neck,face
Unidentified bite area
•The victims were bitten mostly at
night or midnight:
Nights 58.73%
Daytime 41.26%
• A significant number of cases
occurred while the victims were
asleep
40. Incidence of snake bite varies
with climate…
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
Monsoon season Spring season Summer season Autumn season
Peak in July, August and
September
No bites
December, January and
February
41. Management
The first aid being currently recommended is based around the
mnemonic: “Do it R.I.G.H.T.”
R =Reassure the patient. 70% of all snakebites are from non-venomous
species. Only 50% of bites by venomous species actually envenomate
the patient.
I = Immobilise in the same way as a fractured limb. Use bandages or
cloth to hold the splints, not to block the blood supply or apply
pressure. Do not apply any compression in the form of tight ligatures,
they can be dangerous!
G.H. = Get to Hospital Immediately. Traditional remedies have NO
PROVEN benefit in treating snakebite.
T = Tell the doctor of any systemic symptoms such as ptosis that
manifest on the way to hospital.
43. Do’s in Snake Bite…
• Encouragement
• Relieve anxiety
• Call for help
• Wash with water and soap (gloves)
• Remove constricting clothes
• Take to hospital – May need AVS
• If possible; the dead/alive snake or photo too
44. Dont’s in Snake Bite…
• Waste time trying to kill the snake
• No cutting or sucking
• Do not apply any oils/home medications on
the wound
• Do not elevate the limb/keep below heart
level
• Do not tie with anything
• Assume the snake is non-poisonous
45. TREATMENT FOR SNAKE BITE
• Call for emergency assistance immediately if someone has
been bitten by a snake. Responding quickly in this type of
emergency is crucial. While waiting for emergency assistance:
• Wash the bite with soap and water.
Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart.
Cover the area with a clean, cool compress or a moist dressing
to minimize swelling and discomfort.
• Give Anti venom.
49. LIST OF ANTIVENOM MANUFACTURERS
IN INDIA
1. Central Research Institute of Kasauli, HP*
2. Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Co., Mumbai,
MS *
3. Serum Institute of India Ltd., Pune, MS *
4. VINS Bioproducts Ltd., Andhra Pradesh
5. Kings Institute of Preventive Medicines,
Chennai *
6. Bharat Serums & Vaccines Ltd., Mumbai
* Approximately 5 lakh vials are produced
annually.
50. Adsorption of venom onto site: Adsorption of antivenom onto site:
where:
V = venom
A = antivenom
S = unoccupied receptor site
VS = site occupied by venom
AS = site occupied by antivenom
AV = neutralized product from venom/antivenom reaction
Reactionofvenomwithantivenomonsite:
Reaction of antivenom with venom on site:
Reaction of venom and antivenom in blood:
Removal of product and reactants from system: