2. SNAKE VENOM
• Snake venom is highly modified saliva that is produced by special glands
of certain species of snakes.
• The glands which secrete the zootoxin are a modification of the parotid
salivary gland of other vertebrates, and are usually situated on each side of the
head below and behind the eye, encapsulated in a muscular sheath.
• The glands have large alveoli in which venom is stored before being conveyed
by a duct to the base of channeled or tubular fangs, through which it is ejected.
• Snake venom is a combination of many different proteins, peptides and
enzymes.
• Many of these proteins are toxic to humans and other animals.
• Snake venoms are generally not dangerous when ingested, and are
therefore not technically poisons.
3. CLASSIFICATION
• Two major classifications of toxins found in
snake venoms include
• neurotoxins (those that attack the nervous
system) :
– Fasciculins
– Dendrotoxins
– α-neurotoxins
• Cytotoxins (those that attack cells).
– Phospholipases
– Cardiotoxins
– Haemotoxins
4. Evolution
• The presence of enzymes in snake venom was once believed
to be an adaptation to assist digestion.
• However, studies of the western diamondback rattlesnake,
a snake with highly proteolytic venom, show that venom
has no impact on the time required for food to pass
through the gut.
5. List of snake venom
toxins
• Piscivorin from the Eastern Cottonmouth
• Triflin from the Habu snake
• Ophanin from the King Cobra
• Latisemin from the Erabu snake
• Ablomin from the Mamushi snake
6. Some Effects
• There are four distinct types of venom that act on the
body differently.
• Proteolytic venom dismantles the molecular structure of
the area surrounding and including the bite.
• Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular
system.
• Neurotoxic venom acts on the nervous system and brain.
• Cytotoxic venom has a localized action at the site of the
bite.
8. blood circulation
toxin:• Viper, Trimeresurus stejnegeri and Agkistrodon acutus
are examples of such toxins.
• It can cause rapid swelling of the bite wound, bleeding,
pain.
• The skin will become purplish, black and necrotic.
• After 6-8 hours, it could be spread to the head, neck,
limbs and lower back.
• If the bite wound has not treated effectively within 4
hours, at the last death will occur due to heart failure or
shock
9. nervetoxin:
• Bungarus fasciatus and Bungarus multicinctus are
examples of such toxins.
• After the bite, local symptoms were not obvious, less
bleeding, swelling and slight fever.
• However, within a few hours after injury, the rapid
systemic symptoms, patients with anxiety excitement,
groaning with pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty
breathing, convulsions, respiratory muscle paralysis and
the death will appear.
• In addition, some scientists are now studying this
neurotoxin can be used to treat some parasites in the
human nervous system of virus such as the rabies
viruses.
10. mixed toxins
• Cobra and King Cobra’s are examples of
such toxins.
• After the toxin is absorbed, the general
symptom both have the nerve symptom
and harm which were caused by blood
11. Serotherapy
• Especially noteworthy is progress regarding the
defensive reaction by which the blood may be rendered
proof against their effect, by processes similar to
vaccination—antipoisonous serotherapy.
• The studies to which we allude have not only conduced
to a method of treatment against snake-bites, but have
thrown a new light on the great problem of immunity.
• They have shown that the antitoxic sera do not act as
chemical antidotes in destroying the venom, but as
physiological antidotes; that, in addition to the venom
glands, snakes possess other glands supplying their
blood with substances antagonistic to the venom, such
as also exist in various animals refractory to snake
venom, the hedgehog and the mongoose for instance.
12. The biggest roles of snake
venom:
• the treatment of cancer
• hemostasis and anti-coagulation
• analgesic
• manufacture of anti-venom serum
• scientific research
• lower blood pressure
• treatment of headache cause by blood stasis
• application on the nerve growth factor.
13. Antivenom
• Antivenom (or antivenin or
antivenene) is a biological
product used in the
treatment of venomous bites
or stings.
14. processes• Antivenom is created by milking venom from the
desired snake, spider or insect.
• The venom is then diluted and injected into a horse,
sheep, goat or cat.
• The subject animal will undergo an immune
response to the venom, producing antibodies
against the venom's active molecule which can then
be harvested from the animal's blood and used to
treat envenomation.
• Internationally, antivenoms must conform to the
Natural and acquired immunity
15. Types of antivenoms
Brown Snake Antivenom
Tiger Snake Antivenom
Black Snake Antivenom
Death Adder Antivenom
Taipan Antivenom
Sea Snake Antivenom
16. Brown Snake Antivenom
Venom composition
• The venom is multicomponent and
includes powerful presynaptic neurotoxins,
procoagulants and possibly both
cardiotoxins and direct nephrotoxins.
There is no myolytic activity. The venom of
the common brown snake is the second
most potent snake venom in the world.
17. Tiger Snake Antivenom
Venom composition
• Tiger snake venom is very potent and contains neurotoxins, both
pre and post-synaptic, myolysins, and procoagulants. Kidney
damage may occur, but is probably a secondary phenomenon.
• Copperhead venom is less well characterised but contains
neurotoxins and may cause myolysis. Coagulopathy is less certain.
• Rough scaled snake venom has effects very similar to those of tiger
snake venom.
• Broad-headed snakes, pale-headed snakes and Stephen's banded
snake venom contain a procoagulant, but not neurotoxins or
myolysins of clinical significance.
• Black snake venoms are less toxic and do not contain major
neurotoxins, myolysins or procoagulants, though minor myolysis
may occur
18. Black Snake Antivenom
Venom composition
• Mulga snake venom contains several potent
phospholipase toxins that are either myotoxins or
neurotoxins.
• There is also an anticoagulant toxin, but no procoagulant
is present.
• Butler's mulga snake is presumed to have a similar
venom. Collett's snake has venom similar to the mulga
snake.
19. Death Adder Antivenom
Venom composition
• Death adders have large fangs, producing
a considerable quantity of toxic venom.
• However, in humans, the only major
effect of this venom appears to be post
synaptic neurotoxic paralysis.
• The venom does not contain either
procoagulants or myolysins of significance
20. Taipan Antivenom
Venom composition
• Taipan venom is amongst the most potent of all snake
venoms. Inland taipan venom is the most toxic snake
venom known.
• Both species of taipans have similar venom components,
including both pre and post-synaptic neurotoxins,
powerful procoagulants, myolysins, and clinically, kidney
damage may occur, though this may be secondary.
• The common taipan may have fangs >1cm in length,
capable of penetrating a leather boot! This, coupled with
the large quantity of venom produced, has helped fuel
the fearsome reputation of these snakes.
21. Sea Snake Antivenom
Venom composition
• Sea snake venoms have been the subject
of much research, because of their post
synaptic neurotoxins, many of which have
been sequenced.
• The other important component of some
sea snake venoms is myotoxin, which may
dominate the clinical picture.
