Posted by:
BGF
at Fri Jul 30 19:05:10 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by BGF ]
We have two papers looking at the venom.
Lumsden NG, Fry BG, Kini RM and Hodgson WC (2004) "In vitro neuromuscular activity of 'colubrid' snake venoms: clinical and evolutionary implications." Toxicon 43(7):819-827.
Fry BG, Wüster W, Ramjan SFR, Jackson T, Martelli P and Kini RM. (2003) "LC/MS (liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry) analysis of Colubroidea snake venoms: evolutionary and toxinological implications." Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 17: 2047-2062.
Both can be downloaded from the link below.
Unlike most other colubrine snakes, which are rich in neurotoxins, Ahaetulla has very large enzymes as one of the dominant toxin types. The action of the venom reflects this in that it is much less neurotoxic than other colubrines. However, we don't know where the venom is acting (perhaps the blood, perhaps just local edema). I would rate the potential danger of these snakes as typically of only trivial consequence. A common complaint of bites (including ones I've had) is minimal swelling but a deep ache on the bitten hand.
Cheers Bryan Venom papers
----- Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Australian Venom Research Unit, University of Melbourne ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Museum Victoria ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.venomdoc.com
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