BACKGROUND Better knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of snakebites could help to take measures to improve their management. The incidence and mortality of snakebites in the Americas are most often estimated from medical and scientific literature, which generally lack precision and representativeness. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Authors used the notifications of snakebites tre...

Snake genome sequencing is in its infancy-very much behind the progress made in sequencing the genomes of humans, model organisms and pathogens relevant to biomedical research, and agricultural species. We provide here an overview of some of the snake genome projects in progress, and discuss the biological findings, with special emphasis on toxinology, from the small number of draft snake genom...

In recent years, use of biodegradable polymers based nanoparticles has received high interest in the development of vaccines delivery vehicles. The aim of study was to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) for loading Echis carinatus (EC) venom and evaluate their potential as an adjuvant and antigen delivery system on a pilot scale. CS NPs were prepared using ionic gelation method, and their ...

In this issue of International Immunopharmacology, Hilda Vásquez and her colleagues present the pharmacokinetics of an F(ab′)2 scorpion antivenom administered intramuscularly in human volunteers. Although to some readers' eyes this topic may appear frightfully esoteric, it in fact addresses a controversy that has plagued clinical toxinologists for decades, one that affects the life and health o...

This paper focuses on the application of proteomic tools to study the composition and natural history of snake venoms, and their crossreactivity with current homologous and heterologous antivenoms. Proteomic analyses on Bothrops indicated the suitability of using PLA2 molecules as taxonomic and population-specific markers. The lack of phylogenetic clustering among Neotropical and Neartic rattle...

BACKGROUND Hemolyis of red blood cells is a serious toxic effect commonly found among patients envenomed by Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to evlaute the efficay of the avaible polyvalent antivneom in preventing this phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a red blood cell fragility test, the anti-hemolytic effectiveness of a new antivenom serum a...

OBJECTIVES To describe and evaluate notified scorpion envenomation incidents in children and adolescents in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais between 2001 and 2005, and to calculate the incidence and mortality and identify factors related to fatal outcomes. METHODS Analysis of 14,406 mandatory notifications of scorpion envenomation involving patients aged 0 to 19 years in Minas Gerais. Afte...

Australia is home to a vast collection of highly venomous terrestrial and marine snakes. As such, Australia has proven to be an excellent source of investigative material for both local and international toxinologists. Research on snake venoms initially focussed on identifying the most lethal species, and the venom components responsible for the lethality, so that treatment strategies could be ...

'Rescue' experiments were performed on mice to compare the efficacy of i.v. verapamil, box-jellyfish antivenom, and a combination of both agents to counter the effects of toxic material extracted from the tentacles of Chironex fleckeri. In each of three series of experiments, four sets of mice were injected with doses of Chironex tentacle extracts containing approximately 4 mg/ml protein which ...

Anti snake venom (ASV) is the most specific therapy available for treatment of snakebite envenomation. The ASV available in Nepal are polyvalent ASV produced in India and are effective against envenomation by cobra and krait, the two most common species found in Eastern Nepal. Neurotoxic signs respond slowly and unconvincingly and continuous absorption of venom may cause recurrent neurotoxicity...