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Kumar A, Kuttalam S, Tanwar D, Choudhary B, Garg MK, Gopalakrishnan M. First report of clinically significant bites due to Platyceps ventromaculatus (GRAY, 1834) from Thar Desert region, Rajasthan, India. Toxicon 2024; 240:107638. [PMID: 38311255 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platyceps ventromaculatus is a non-front-fanged colubrid snake of unknown medical significance. In this study, we highlight the clinical manifestations and outcomes of P. ventromaculatus bites. We also emphasise the need to create awareness among clinicians and the public for its potential to be confused with serious venomous bites such as Echis carinatus sochureki. METHODS This series is part of an ongoing observational clinical study from our tertiary care hospital in Jodhpur, India on the profile and outcomes of snakebite envenoming. Data was collected after approval from Institute Ethics Committee. The date and time of the bite, geographical location, type of human-snake conflict, time-to-reach a healthcare facility, antivenom used (dose), and outcomes were recorded. We retrospectively examined our clinical data for images suggestive of P. ventromaculatus and present the clinical details of these patients. The photographs were identified utilising taxonomic keys for species identification. RESULTS A total of four images and three patients with bites due to P. ventromaculatus were identified. The clinical effects included mild local erythema, pain, transient local bleeding, and edema. All bites occurred during daylight hours, 2 during agricultural activities, and one at home. Twenty-minute Whole Blood Clotting Test was persistently prolonged for 12 h after the bite in one patient. All patients were treated symptomatically, observed at the emergency department, and discharged within 24 h. None of the patients received antivenom. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, P. ventromaculatus has so far not been reported to result in envenoming or medically significant bites. This study highlights that Platyceps bite can present with clinically significant local and possibly systemic findings that may lead to confusion with saw-scaled viper (Echis) envenoming. Clinicians must receive appropriate training so as to be aware and recognize regional snake species that do not require antivenom so as to avoid unnecessary antivenom administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhilesh Kumar
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, India
| | - Sourish Kuttalam
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, Wales, UK; Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal, 712407, India; Captive & Field Herpetology Ltd, 13 Hirfron, Llaingoch, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YU, Wales, UK
| | - Divya Tanwar
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, India
| | - Bharat Choudhary
- Department of Trauma and Emergency (Paediatrics), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, India
| | - Mahendra Kumar Garg
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, India
| | - Maya Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, 342005, India.
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Shi JS, Liu JC, Giri R, Owens JB, Santra V, Kuttalam S, Selvan M, Guo KJ, Malhotra A. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Gloydius (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with description of two new alpine species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. Zookeys 2021; 1061:87-108. [PMID: 34707454 PMCID: PMC8505391 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1061.70420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We provide a molecular phylogeny of Asian pit vipers (the genus Gloydius) based on four mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, ND4, and cytb). Sequences of Gloydiushimalayanus, the only member of the genus that occurs south of the Himalayan range, are included for the first time. In addition, two new species of the genus Gloydius are described based on specimens collected from Zayu, Tibet, west of the Nujiang River and Heishui, Sichuan, east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The new species, Gloydiuslipipengi sp. nov., can be differentiated from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: the third supralabial not reaching the orbit (separated from it by a suborbital scale); wide, black-bordered greyish postorbital stripe extending from the posterior margin of the orbit (not separated by the postoculars, covering most of the anterior temporal scale) to the ventral surface of the neck; irregular black annular crossbands on the mid-body; 23-21-15 dorsal scales; 165 ventral scales, and 46 subcaudal scales. Gloydiusswildsp. nov. can be differentiated from its congeners by the narrower postorbital stripe (only half the width of the anterior temporal scale, the lower edge is approximately straight and bordered with white); a pair of arched stripes on the occiput; lateral body lakes black spots; a pair of round spots on the parietal scales; 21 rows of mid-body dorsal scales; zigzag dark brown stripes on the dorsum; 168–170 ventral scales, and 43–46 subcaudal scales. The molecular phylogeny in this study supports the sister relationship between G.lipipengisp. nov. and G.rubromaculatus, another recently described species from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, more than 500 km away, and indicate the basal position of G.himalayanus within the genus and relatively distant relationship to its congeners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Song Shi
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China.,Institute of Herpetology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China
| | - Jin-Cheng Liu
- Institute of Herpetology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang 110034, China
| | - Rohit Giri
- Department of Zoology, Prithvi Narayan Campus, Bhimkalipatan-1, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
| | - John Benjamin Owens
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.,Captive and Field Herpetology, Wales, UK
| | - Vishal Santra
- Captive and Field Herpetology, Wales, UK.,Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal, India
| | - Sourish Kuttalam
- Captive and Field Herpetology, Wales, UK.,Society for Nature Conservation, Research and Community Engagement (CONCERN), Nalikul, Hooghly, West Bengal, India
| | - Melvin Selvan
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Dindigull, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ke-Ji Guo
- Central South Inventory and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
| | - Anita Malhotra
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
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Debebe A, Kuttalam S. Parameter validation of analytical methods of insecticide residue analyses in foods of animal origin, feed and water. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2011; 86:571-575. [PMID: 21528426 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0284-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The study was conducted to examine the interrelationship and coherence of analytical parameters in method validation. Recovery, sensitivity, linearity, precision and limits of detection (LOD) were tested in six methods for organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides. Compounds that fell out of the stipulated recovery, 70-120%, in a matrix have concurrently failed to meet the requirements for sensitivity (≥ 0.7), linearity (R² > 0.99) and precision (< 0.2) in the same matrix. Highest LOD was recorded in those compounds and matrices. Different from the conventional point estimate, a new approach was introduced for setting upper and lower confidence limits of the LOD in quantitative analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amsalu Debebe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Gondar, PO Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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