The envenomation syndrome caused by the Australian Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus

Anuric renal failure in a dog after Red‐bellied Black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenomation

“…Rhabdomyolysis, indicated in the current report by elevations in serum activities of CK and AST, has been previously reported in cases of Red-bellied Black snake envenomation in monkeys, 11 mice, 7 rats 17 and humans 4 and is now described in the dog. The elevations of CK and AST activities in this dog were greater than 12 times the upper limit of the reference ranges, indicative of moderate to severe skeletal muscle damage.…”

“…1,2 The toxic components of Red-bellied Black snake venom have previously been isolated and defined. [3][4][5] The major toxic component ('pseudexin') takes the form of a mixture of three Phospholipase A 2 isoenzymes 6 and acts as a weak presynaptic neurotoxin as well as displaying both direct and indirect haemolytic activity. 3 Other toxins present within the venom of this snake species include a factor Xa-like prothrombin activator, which acts as a procoagulant, and a poorly defined myotoxin.…”

“…3 Other toxins present within the venom of this snake species include a factor Xa-like prothrombin activator, which acts as a procoagulant, and a poorly defined myotoxin. 4,7 Red-bellied Black snake venom has been assessed to have a low overall toxicity or lethality in comparison to other Australian elapid species such as the Brown snake (Pseudonaja to direct light stimulus. Mucous membranes were pale pink with evidence of icterus and capillary refill time was prolonged, taking 2 seconds.…”

Red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) envenomation in the dog: Diagnosis and treatment of nine cases

“…It reinforces the emerging view that the potential severity of this envenomation has been underappreciated by veterinary practitioners (Heller et al, 2005(Heller et al, , 2006 and presents some of the first data comparing bite swab, serum and urinary snake venom levels in naturally envenomed animals. It also presents pilot data on the use of a caprylic acid purified whole equine based bi-valent snake antivenom for black snake envenomation in veterinary practice and thereby complements human clinical studies of this envenomation (Churchman et al, 2010;Pearn et al, 2000).…”

“…It's venom was first investigated by Charles Martin in the 1890's as a prototype for Australian elapids (Hawgood, 1997) and then, more comprehensively, by Charles Kellaway in the 1930's (Kellaway, 1930). The venom is notably less toxic than that of other Australian elapids with an LD 50 of 2.52 mg/kg in 18e21 g mice (Broad et al, 1979) and contains neurotoxins, procoagulants and myotoxins (Pearn et al, 2000). The venom of the RBBS is effectively neutralised by antivenom directed against tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) venom (Best and Sutherland, 1991).…”