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Snake

 

Questions on Snake

 

  • In India about 216 species of snakes are found. Only 52 are poisonous.
  • When a poisonous snake bites it may or may not inject its venom.
  • Venom is modified saliva. It's primary function is to capture/kill the prey and then it also helps to digest the prey.
  • Snake venom is made up of about 26 different enzymes. Species usually have 6-12 of these enzymes. These enzymes determine the toxicity of the snake and whether it is hemotoxic or neurotoxic.

 

 
Snake Bite

Types of Poisonous Snakes


Poisonous Snakes are of Three types:

 
  • Cobra & Krait - these secrete Neurotoxic venom and cause Paralysis.
 
  • Viper - these secrete Haemotoxic venom and cause Haemolysis and Haemorrhage.
 
  • Sea Snakes - secrete myotoxic venom and cause Muscular pain.

Symptoms due to Snake bite

Cobra or Krait
Mild
Local symptoms -- burning, redness, swelling, superficial necrosis.
Marked Neurotoxic effects.
Earliest symptom - Ptosis - inability to keep Eyes open.
Giddiness, Lethargy, Muscle weakness.
Spreading Paralysis - causing difficulty in speaking and breathing, Salivation, Vomiting. Frothing around mouth.

Viper -
Haemotoxic venom is very painful
Severe
Local symptoms -- Intense Pain, Inflammation, Ozing of haemolytic blood.
Marked Vasculotoxic effects.
Bleeding from mucous membrane of the Mouth, Anus, Nose and haemorrhages under the skin.
Because of local damage to circulatory cells, hemotoxic venom spreads more slowly and has a slower action than the neurotoxins.
Vascular Collapse - Cold Skin, Rapid feeble Pulse, Dilated Pupils insensitive to light, Gradual loss of consciousness.

Sea Snakes
No Local symptoms.
Severe Pain while moving Neck, Trunk and Limbs. A few hours later urine turns Brown to Black due to the presence of muscle protein Myoglobin.   

 
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