Personal Experience of Daboia siamensis Envenomation

Abstract

Reports of envenomation induced by Daboia siamensis, a medically important venomous snake in Taiwan, are rare, and species identification might not be definitive. This article reports the complete course of a definite D. siamensis bite. The patient in this report was one of the authors who was bitten on the right palm near the base of the index finger by D. siamensis. The patient experienced local effects, neurological manifestations, and acute kidney injury. The laboratory analysis revealed elevated D-dimer and coagulopathy. The patient was administered 8 vials of antivenom and did not undergo surgical intervention or endotracheal tube intubation, but serum sickness occurred 8 days after antivenom administration. The horse immunoglobulin produced by the Centers for Disease Control, R. O. C. (Taiwan), against D. siamensis was effective and safe in the treatment of the patient. However, the best antivenom administration strategy remains unclear and requires further study.

Comparisons of the Oral Microbiota from Seven Species of Wild Venomous Snakes in Taiwan Using the High-Throughput Amplicon Sequencing of the Full-Length 16S rRNA Gene

“…Compared to Ts, victims of Pm have a higher rate (37% vs. 6%) of local necrosis or cellulitis [ 89 ]. Victims of Ds, Da, and Tg are rare in Taiwan [ 90 , 91 ], and a Ds bite seems to have less complication of local tissue necrosis [ 91 , 92 ]. Tissue necrosis may be initiated by the action of snake toxins [ 93 , 94 ].…”

Oral Bacteria and Their Antibiotic Susceptibilities in Taiwanese Venomous Snakes

“…When envenomed by B. multicinctus , the infection rates are much lower. Among the less common venomous snakebites, wounds caused by D. acutus are more likely to become infected and require antibiotics or even surgery than wounds caused by D. siamensis [ 25 , 35 ]. There is not enough information to determine wound infection rates for other snakebites, which are less frequently reported in Taiwan, such as those caused by Trimeresurus gracilis and Ovophis makazayazaya [ 36 , 37 ].…”