Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>)
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Envenoming by south Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Genus: <it>Hypnale</it>) is a significant health issue in Sri Lanka and in peninsular India. Bites by these snakes frequently lead to local envenoming, coagulopathy and acu...
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BMC
2012-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
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| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/471 |
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| author | Silva Anjana Gunawardena Panduka Weilgama Danister Maduwage Kalana Gawarammana Indika |
| author_facet | Silva Anjana Gunawardena Panduka Weilgama Danister Maduwage Kalana Gawarammana Indika |
| author_sort | Silva Anjana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Envenoming by south Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Genus: <it>Hypnale</it>) is a significant health issue in Sri Lanka and in peninsular India. Bites by these snakes frequently lead to local envenoming, coagulopathy and acute renal failure even resulting in death. Recently the genus was revised and the existence of three species <it>viz H. hypnale, H. nepa</it> and <it>H. zara</it> were recognized. There is, however, a paucity of information on the toxicity of the venoms of these species. Hence, we compared the toxic effects of the three <it>Hypnale</it> venoms using BALB/c mice.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Intraperitoneal median lethal doses (LD<sub>50</sub>) for <it>H. hypnale</it>, <it>H. zara</it> and <it>H. nepa</it> venoms were 1.6, 6.0 and 9.5 μg protein/g respectively. Minimum haemorrhagic doses for venoms of <it>H. hypnale</it>, <it>H. zara</it> and <it>H. nepa</it> were 3.4, 11.0 and 16.6 μg protein/mouse respectively. The minimum necrotic doses for the same venoms were 15.0, 55.1 and 68.2 μg protein/mouse respectively. Severe congestion and petecheal haemorrhages were observed in lungs, kidneys, liver and the alimentary tract. Histopathogical examination of kidneys revealed proximal tubular cell injury and acute tubular necrosis with intact basement membrane indicating possible direct nephrotoxicity. <it>Hypnale</it> venoms caused pulmonary oedema, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, focal neuronal degeneration in brain and extramedullary haemopoiesis in spleen. <it>H. hypnale</it> venom caused all above histopathological alterations at lower doses compared to the other two.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Hypnale</it> venoms cause similar pathological changes with marked differences in the severity of the toxic effects in vivo. Therefore, differences in the severity of the clinical manifestations could possibly be seen among bite victims of the three <it>Hypnale</it> species.</p> |
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| spelling | doaj.art-1cc0f81ee2544605920d469e39ea1e892022-12-21T22:00:36ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002012-08-015147110.1186/1756-0500-5-471Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>)Silva AnjanaGunawardena PandukaWeilgama DanisterMaduwage KalanaGawarammana Indika<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Envenoming by south Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Genus: <it>Hypnale</it>) is a significant health issue in Sri Lanka and in peninsular India. Bites by these snakes frequently lead to local envenoming, coagulopathy and acute renal failure even resulting in death. Recently the genus was revised and the existence of three species <it>viz H. hypnale, H. nepa</it> and <it>H. zara</it> were recognized. There is, however, a paucity of information on the toxicity of the venoms of these species. Hence, we compared the toxic effects of the three <it>Hypnale</it> venoms using BALB/c mice.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Intraperitoneal median lethal doses (LD<sub>50</sub>) for <it>H. hypnale</it>, <it>H. zara</it> and <it>H. nepa</it> venoms were 1.6, 6.0 and 9.5 μg protein/g respectively. Minimum haemorrhagic doses for venoms of <it>H. hypnale</it>, <it>H. zara</it> and <it>H. nepa</it> were 3.4, 11.0 and 16.6 μg protein/mouse respectively. The minimum necrotic doses for the same venoms were 15.0, 55.1 and 68.2 μg protein/mouse respectively. Severe congestion and petecheal haemorrhages were observed in lungs, kidneys, liver and the alimentary tract. Histopathogical examination of kidneys revealed proximal tubular cell injury and acute tubular necrosis with intact basement membrane indicating possible direct nephrotoxicity. <it>Hypnale</it> venoms caused pulmonary oedema, hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis, focal neuronal degeneration in brain and extramedullary haemopoiesis in spleen. <it>H. hypnale</it> venom caused all above histopathological alterations at lower doses compared to the other two.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Hypnale</it> venoms cause similar pathological changes with marked differences in the severity of the toxic effects in vivo. Therefore, differences in the severity of the clinical manifestations could possibly be seen among bite victims of the three <it>Hypnale</it> species.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/471HypnaleNepaZaraVenomToxicityHistopathology |
| spellingShingle | Silva Anjana Gunawardena Panduka Weilgama Danister Maduwage Kalana Gawarammana Indika Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) BMC Research Notes Hypnale Nepa Zara Venom Toxicity Histopathology |
| title | Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) |
| title_full | Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) |
| title_fullStr | Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) |
| title_short | Comparative in-vivo toxicity of venoms from South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae: <it>Hypnale</it>) |
| title_sort | comparative in vivo toxicity of venoms from south asian hump nosed pit vipers viperidae crotalinae it hypnale it |
| topic | Hypnale Nepa Zara Venom Toxicity Histopathology |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/471 |
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