Venomous Australian Creatures: The Action of their Toxins and the Care of the Envenomated Patient

Abstract

Sl.:~DIARYPotelltially fatal bites and stings by A ltstralian terrestrial and marille animals are relatively con~I:lOn, bltt with correct management .of victiltls, death should be iln infreqztent oCCltrrenc.e. 1 he knowJl pharmacopathologlcal actIOns of some of these venoms are enumerated and speofic ilntldotes are descrzbed. Incases of certain venoms against which no "specific" treatment has yet heCJl developed, all approach to mall(!Clemellt based upon clinical and experimental evidence is presented. b * :\I.

Further Observations on the Pathological Responses of Rat Skeletal Muscle to Toxins Isolated From the Venom of the Australian Tiger Snake, Notechis Scutatus Scutatus

“…Bites by the Elapidae in general result in relatively large volumes of venom being injected into what is effectively a subcutaneous depot site to which the antivenene cannot have easy access, and muscle necrosis is unequivocally established within 1 h of the bite. In the case of man being the victim, it is usual for 2 h or more to elapse between the moment of physical evenomation and the availability of skilled medical attention (see Sutherland, 1974, for example) and it seems unrealistic, therefore, to expect that muscle damage following bites by those members of the Elapidae whose venoms contain myotoxic elements will be counteracted by antivenene administration.…”

Growth and age determination of the tropical Australian cubozoan Chiropsalmus sp.

“…can reach their theoretical maximum size of approximately 75 mm dbw within 130 days, well within the average length of the medusa season of approximately 180 days (Gordon, 1998). Maximum sizes of 200 and 100 mm reported by Sutherland (1994) and Rifkin (1996), respectively, appear theoretically inaccurate based on these data. Maximum sizes of 200 and 100 mm reported by Sutherland (1994) and Rifkin (1996), respectively, appear theoretically inaccurate based on these data.…”

Spiders (Order: Araneae)

“…68 Adverse effects of funnel -web spider envenomations on mammals result primarily from the actions of δ -atracotoxins on the peripheral nervous system. 70 The voltage -dependent binding of δ -atracotoxins to neurotoxin receptor site -3 is similar, but not identical, to the binding of α -scorpion toxins and sea anemone toxins. 69 The spontaneous repetitive fi ring of action potentials and the release of excessive amounts of neurotransmitters (e.g., epinephrine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine) cause muscle fasciculations and autonomic instability.…”