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Tansuwannarat P, Tongpoo A, Phongsawad S, Sriapha C, Wananukul W, Trakulsrichai S. A Retrospective Cohort Study of Cobra Envenomation: Clinical Characteristics, Treatments, and Outcomes. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:468. [PMID: 37505737 PMCID: PMC10467073 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of envenomation involving cobra species in Thailand (Naja kaouthia, Naja siamensis, and Naja sumatrana). Data of patients who had been bitten by a cobra or inoculated via the eyes/skin in 2018-2021 were obtained from the Ramathibodi Poison Center. There were 1045 patients admitted during the 4-year study period (bite, n = 539; ocular/dermal inoculation, n = 506). Almost all patients with ocular/dermal inoculation had eye involvement and ocular injuries, but none had neurological effects. Most of the patients bitten by a cobra had local effects (69.0%) and neurological signs and symptoms (55.7%). The median interval between the bite and the onset of neurological symptoms was 1 h (range, 10 min to 24 h). Accordingly, patients should be observed closely in hospitals for at least 24 h after a bite. Intubation with ventilator support was required in 45.5% of patients and for a median duration of 1.1 days. Antivenom was administered in 63.5% of cases. There were nine deaths, most of which resulted from severe infection. Neurological effects and intubation were significantly more common after a monocled cobra bite than after a spitting cobra bite. The administration of antivenom with good supportive care, including the appropriate management of complications, especially wound infection, might decrease fatality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phantakan Tansuwannarat
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10540, Thailand; (P.T.); (S.P.)
- Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.T.); (C.S.); (W.W.)
| | - Achara Tongpoo
- Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.T.); (C.S.); (W.W.)
| | - Suraphong Phongsawad
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10540, Thailand; (P.T.); (S.P.)
| | - Charuwan Sriapha
- Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.T.); (C.S.); (W.W.)
| | - Winai Wananukul
- Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.T.); (C.S.); (W.W.)
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Satariya Trakulsrichai
- Ramathibodi Poison Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (A.T.); (C.S.); (W.W.)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Chong HP, Tan KY, Liu BS, Sung WC, Tan CH. Cytotoxicity of Venoms and Cytotoxins from Asiatic Cobras (Naja kaouthia, Naja sumatrana, Naja atra) and Neutralization by Antivenoms from Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14050334. [PMID: 35622581 PMCID: PMC9144634 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Envenoming by cobras (Naja spp.) often results in extensive local tissue necrosis when optimal treatment with antivenom is not available. This study investigated the cytotoxicity of venoms and purified cytotoxins from the Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia), Taiwan Cobra (Naja atra), and Equatorial Spitting Cobra (Naja sumatrana) in a mouse fibroblast cell line, followed by neutralization of the cytotoxicity by three regional antivenoms: the Thai Naja kaouthia monovalent antivenom (NkMAV), Vietnamese snake antivenom (SAV) and Taiwanese Neuro bivalent antivenom (NBAV). The cytotoxins of N. atra (NA-CTX) and N. sumatrana (NS-CTX) were identified as P-type cytotoxins, whereas that of N. kaouthia (NK-CTX) is S-type. All venoms and purified cytotoxins demonstrated varying concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in the following trend: highest for N. atra, followed by N. sumatrana and N. kaouthia. The antivenoms moderately neutralized the cytotoxicity of N. kaouthia venom but were weak against N. atra and N. sumatrana venom cytotoxicity. The neutralization potencies of the antivenoms against the cytotoxins were varied and generally low across NA-CTX, NS-CTX, and NK-CTX, possibly attributed to limited antigenicity of CTXs and/or different formulation of antivenom products. The study underscores the need for antivenom improvement and/or new therapies in treating local tissue toxicity caused by cobra envenomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Phin Chong
- Venom Research and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Kae Yi Tan
- Protein and Interactomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Bing-Sin Liu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan;
| | - Wang-Chou Sung
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (W.-C.S.); (C.H.T.)
| | - Choo Hock Tan
- Venom Research and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (W.-C.S.); (C.H.T.)
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Review of the Mechanisms of Snake Venom Induced Pain: It's All about Location, Location, Location. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042128. [PMID: 35216244 PMCID: PMC8879488 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain—acute, chronic and debilitating—is the most feared neurotoxicity resulting from a survivable venomous snake bite. The purpose of this review is to present in a novel paradigm what we know about the molecular mechanisms responsible for pain after envenomation. Progressing from known pain modulating peptides and enzymes, to tissue level interactions with venom resulting in pain, to organ system level pain syndromes, to geographical level distribution of pain syndromes, the present work demonstrates that understanding the mechanisms responsible for pain is dependent on “location, location, location”. It is our hope that this work can serve to inspire the molecular and epidemiologic investigations needed to better understand the neurotoxic mechanisms responsible for these snake venom mediated diverse pain syndromes and ultimately lead to agent specific treatments beyond anti-venom alone.
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Abstract
SNAKE ENVENOMATION REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT HEALTH PROBLEM IN much of the world. In 2009, it was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease, and in 2017, it was elevated into Category A of the Neglected Tropical Diseases list, further expanding access to funding for research and antivenoms. However, snake envenomation occurs in both tropical and temperate climates and on all continents except Antarctica. Worldwide, the estimated number of annual deaths due to snake envenomation (80,000 to 130,000) is similar to the estimate for drug-resistant tuberculosis and for multiple myeloma., In countries with adequate resources, deaths are infrequent (e.g., <6 deaths per year in the United States, despite the occurrence of 7000 to 8000 bites), but in countries without adequate resources, deaths may number in the tens of thousands. Venomous snakes kept as pets are not rare, and physicians anywhere might be called on to manage envenomation by a nonnative snake. Important advances have occurred in our understanding of the biology of venom and the management of snake envenomation since this topic was last addressed in the Journal two decades ago. For the general provider, it is important to understand the spectrum of snake envenomation effects and approaches to management and to obtain specific guidance, when needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Seifert
- From the Department of Emergency Medicine and the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque (S.A.S.); the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha (J.O.A.); and the National Natural Toxins Research Center and the Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville (E.E.S.)
| | - James O Armitage
- From the Department of Emergency Medicine and the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque (S.A.S.); the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha (J.O.A.); and the National Natural Toxins Research Center and the Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville (E.E.S.)
| | - Elda E Sanchez
- From the Department of Emergency Medicine and the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque (S.A.S.); the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha (J.O.A.); and the National Natural Toxins Research Center and the Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville (E.E.S.)
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Mouinga Abayi DA, Mba Aki T, Assoumou PA, Brahime F, Mve Mengome E. [Management of snake venom spray to the eye]. J Fr Ophtalmol 2021; 44:e459-e460. [PMID: 33965270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfo.2020.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D A Mouinga Abayi
- Service d'ophtalmologie de l'hôpital d'instruction des Armées Omar Bongo Ondimba, BP 20404, Libreville, Gabon.
| | - T Mba Aki
- Service d'ophtalmologie de l'hôpital d'instruction des Armées Omar Bongo Ondimba, BP 20404, Libreville, Gabon
| | - P A Assoumou
- Service d'ophtalmologie de l'hôpital d'instruction des Armées Omar Bongo Ondimba, BP 20404, Libreville, Gabon
| | - F Brahime
- Service d'ophtalmologie de l'hôpital d'instruction des Armées Omar Bongo Ondimba, BP 20404, Libreville, Gabon
| | - E Mve Mengome
- Service d'ophtalmologie de l'hôpital d'instruction des Armées Omar Bongo Ondimba, BP 20404, Libreville, Gabon
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Venom Ophthalmia and Ocular Complications Caused by Snake Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090576. [PMID: 32911777 PMCID: PMC7551025 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the detailed clinical description, pathophysiology, and efficacy of treatments for ocular envenoming (venom ophthalmia) caused by venom of the spitting elapid and other snakes, as well as ocular complications caused by snake venom injection. In this paper, we review clinical information of case reports regarding venom ophthalmia and snake venom injection with associated ocular injuries in Asia, Africa, and the United States. We also review the literature of snake venom such as their compositions, properties, and toxic effects. Based on the available clinical information and animal studies, we further discuss possible mechanisms of venom ophthalmia derived from two different routes (Duvernoy's gland in the mouth and nuchal gland in the dorsal neck) and the pathophysiology of snake venom injection induced ocular complications, including corneal edema, corneal erosion, cataract, ocular inflammation, retinal hemorrhage, acute angle closure glaucoma, as well as ptosis, diplopia, and photophobia. Finally, we discuss the appropriate first aid and novel strategies for treating venom ophthalmia and snake envenoming.
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Jalink M. Ocular complications of spitting cobra venom. Indian J Ophthalmol 2020; 68:2632-2633. [PMID: 33120721 PMCID: PMC7774117 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_1164_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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