1. Epidemiology 2. Indian venomous snakes 3. Snake Venom 4. Poisonous Vs. Non poisonous Snakes. 5. Positive identifications and diagnosis.

Abhishek Kr Mishra 090201577(209)

world wide > 5 million bites annually of which 2 lakh are reported in India . > 1,25,000 deaths by venomous snakes of which 15,000 to 20,000 deaths in India. Males: females = 2:1 Majority of bites (40%): lower limbs. 50% of bites by venomous snakes are dry bites. That result in negligible envenomation.

In India, 240 species of snakes are present of which 52 are poisonous.

Class
Elapidae viperidae

Common in India
Cobra, Kraits Russells viper, saw scaled viper, Pit viper Sea Snakes

Venom
Neurotoxic Haemotoxic

Hydrophidae

Myotoxic

Northern India : Elapids are common most bites are by cobra, krait. Southern India : Vipers, King Cobra : Agumbe Rainforest Research station.

INDIAN COBRA COMMON KRAIT Fatal period 8 h Fatal period :18 h Flaccid paralysis and local necrosis.

Saw Scaled Viper Russels Viper Fatal period : 3 days Fatal period : 5 days Coagulaopthy, shock, renal damage, cardiotoxicity, local necrosis.

Toxic saliva secreted by modified parotid salivary glands of venomous snakes. Cocktail of enzymes, low molecular wt. polypeptides, glycoprotein's and metal ions. Acidic & Water soluble. On drying gives fine needle like crystals. Lethal Dose: Cobra 0.12 g, Krait-0.06 g, Russell's Viper-0.15 g.

Component
Hyaluronidase Phospholipase A2

Action/effect
Local tissue destruction Myotoxic Cardiotoxic Neurotoxic Increases vascular permeability haemolysis Post synaptic inhibition

Proteases Alpha/Beta Bungarotoxin Cobrotoxin

Poisonous
Usually stout & dull

Vs.

Non poisonous
Usually slender and

colored. Head usually triangular in shape. Head scales : small

Belly scales are broad. Tail : flattened or

brightly colored. Head usually rounded or oval. Head scales usually large. Belly scales are small. Tail : Usually rounded.

rounded

Poisonous
Fangs : A pair of hollow

Non poisonous
Multiple Short and solid

fangs like hypodermic needles.

teeth present.

Large scales on head. Hood with a spectacle or monocle mark 3rd supralabial shield touches eye and nose shield. Relatively small and grooved fangs.

Bands on the back. Central row of scales on back. Scales on undersurface of tails. 4th infralabial scales is largest of all infralabials. Relatively small fangs.

Triangular head with small scales. V mark on the head with apex pointing forwards. 3rows of diamond shaped patches on the back Relatively channelized long fangs.

Triangular head with small scales White arrow mark on the head. Wavy line on each flank. Scales of body serrated. Relatively channelized long fangs.

Usually dull colored (Brown, Black, Grey) Stout body with abruptly compressed and tapering tail Broad belly scales extending entire width of belly Small scales on triangular head. Pit between eye and nostril. Presence of hood with or without markings Presence of fangs