BIOLOGY PROJECT

SNAKE VENOM
AND ANTIVENOM
 INDEX

SL.NO. CONTENTS PG.NO.

1. ACKNOWLEGMENT 1

2. INTRODUCTION 2

3. TALK WITH DOCTOR 4

4. CONCLUSION 9

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Completion of this project was possible only due to the kind guidance and
cooperation extended by various persons .

First of all I thank “God Almighty” for making the project possible.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the principal of the institution
Rev.Fr.Varghese Manjaly for granting the permission to complete my project
outside the campus.

I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Chinnu Gopalkrishnan and Mrs.

Smitha Ajith (Biology Department) who gave me a helping hand to complete the
project successfully.

I also thank my group mate Akhil.A.Kareem for staying close with me and
helping me complete the project at the earliest.

I would like to extend my thanks to the authorities in charge of Valluvanad

Hospital ,Kanniyampuram and my sincere thanks to Dr. Arun.S.Menon
(MBBS, DNB) .

I also thank my loving parents who always support me in all my activities. Once
again I thank each and every one whose support led me till here.

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 INTRODUCTION
A snakebite is an injury caused by the bite of a snake, especially a venomous
snake. A common sign of a bite from a venomous snake is the presence of
two puncture wounds from the animal's fangs. Sometimes venom injection from
the bite may occur. This may result in redness, swelling, and severe pain at the
area, which may take up to an hour to appear. Usually, people know right away if a
snake has bitten them. However, these animals can strike quickly and disappear
before people have time to react. Most snake bites can cause pain and swelling
around the bite. Those that are venomous may also cause fever, a headache,
convulsions, and numbness. However, these symptoms can also occur due to
intense fear following the bite. Bites can cause an allergic reaction in some people,
which may include anaphylaxis.

Snake venom is produced in modified parotid glands normally responsible for

secreting saliva. It is stored in structures called alveoli behind the animal's eyes,
and ejected voluntarily through its hollow tubular fangs. Venom is composed of
hundreds to thousands of different proteins and enzymes, all serving a variety of

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purposes, such as interfering with a prey's cardiac system or increasing tissue
permeability so that venom is absorbed faster. The strength of venom differs
markedly between species and even more so between families, as measured
by median lethal dose (LD50) in mice. Subcutaneous LD50 varies by over 140-fold
within elapids and by more than 100-fold in vipers. The amount of venom
produced also differs among species, with the Gaboon viper able to potentially
deliver from 450–600 milligrams of venom in a single bite, the most of any snake.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 5 million snakebites
occur each year, resulting in up to 2.7 million envenomings. Published reports
suggest that between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths occur each year. Snakebite
envenoming causes as many as 400,000 amputations and other permanent
disabilities. Many snakebites go unreported, often because victims seek treatment
from non-medical sources or do not have access to health care. As a result it is
believed that many cases of snakebite go unreported.

Therefore, due to the dreaded effects it can cause, a serious study on the symptoms,
treatment and the reported cases on ‘snake venom and antivenom’ is essential.

In this project I would like to present an interview with a doctor based on snake
bites , venom and antivenom.

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 TALK WITH THE DOCTOR
I am happy that I got a chance to be with Dr. Arun.S.Menon MBBS (Internal
Medicine), DNB (Diabetologist)

Me: Good Afternoon Sir

Dr: Good Afternoon.

Me: Sir, there is a hearsay that this hospital is the best for treating snake
bites. What is the frequency of snake bite reports in the hospital?

Dr: Frequency varies with seasons. Usually in summer seasons the reported cases
shoot up but it is rare in monsoon season. The number of reported cases was high
after flood had hit Kerala as all the snakes got into houses with the flow of water.
Last month nearly 15 cases were reported in the hospital.

Me: Could you please tell us about the classification of the snake venom in our
locality?

Dr: Surely. Venoms are of 4 types: Haemotoxic venom which affects the blood ,
Neurotoxic venom affects the nervous system , Haemo-Neurotoxic venom affects
both blood and nervous system and Myotoxic venom affects the muscles. This
myotoxic venom is very rare , it is injected by seasnake which is rare in our
locality.

Me: What are the symptoms of snake bites?

Dr: Symptoms vary with different venoms. The common symptoms are two
puncture wounds, blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, swelling and redness

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around wound. In case of a Cobra bite, drooping of eyes may also occur. If it is a
Pit Viper, metallic or minty taste in mouth is also common.

Me: Do people take necessary first aid before they reach the hospital?

Dr: Yes, many do. But many of the first aids they take shows their ignorance about
these bites. They usually tie the bitten portion strongly so that the venom does not
rise up , but if we do it in that way the circulation of blood will be affected and it
will lead to many other problems.

Me: So doctor, what are the first aid measures that you would prefer?

Dr: When a snake bites, along with its venom , bacteria also enters our body which
causes infection of the wound. So the first thing one must do when bitten by a
snake is that , he/she must wash the bitten area thoroughly with antiseptic liquid
and it should be tied not tightly, but in a normal way because if tied heavily it will
lead to chemical cellulitis which may need amputations to get cured. Next
important thing is that the bitten part must be immobilized.

Me: Sir, according to you, which is the best way to get cured easily from a
snake bite, allopathy or ayurveda i.e. traditional methods?

Dr: Apart from my profession I would suggest one to go for allopathy because
cutting down the effect of the venom at the earliest is the most important aim
which antivenoms can do effectively, whereas traditional methods may take a
longer time to cut doe the effect.

Me: Sir, would you tell us about the most dreadful case due to snake bite you
attended?

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Dr: Surely. Once when I was working in PK Das hospital I attended a case of bite
of Russell’s viper. He was some 60-70 year old. He was found unconscious near
the cow shed. He was thought to have a stroke and paralysis, but all the tests
including CT scan was normal. So I was called upon to attend the case, and on my
examination of the body , I found two puncture wound, and by examining all other
symptoms I came up to a conclusion that it was the bite of Russell’s viper. But it
was too late then, and as Russell’s viper injected haemotoxic venom , the condition
was too bad and blood was seeping through his skin. I still administered him with
the antivenom but was of no use. He had his death.

Me: Which is the most dangerous venom in our locality?

Dr: In our locality, the most poisonous one is Krait. It’s venom is neurotoxic.

Me: Could you please tell about the chemical side of a venom?

Dr: Venom is a complex enzyme, it is a complex protein. Its stimulates a chemical

reaction in the body which affects a cascade of events which results in blood
coagulation and many other processes. Whereas , the venom if ingested through
mouth will not affect our body as our digestive enzymes are capable of digesting it.

Me: How is this antivenom working in our body?

Dr: It just works by the method of competitive inhibition which prevents the
further effect of the venom.

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Me: How far is this antivenom effective?

Dr: The antidote is more effective when administered the earliest. But still allergic
responses may occur .

Me: Why does that allergic responses occur?

Dr: It is because this antivenom is made from horses. Horses are injected with
small amount of venom so that the antibodies are produced in their body, so it is a
foreign substance for our body so, allergic reactions occur.

Me: So , can’t we tackle this allergic responses by preparing antivenom using

biotechnology?

Dr: Surely , we can. And nowadays, the allergic responses have completely been
avoided due to production of antivenom by biotechnology.

Me: Thank you doctor for your valuable time.

Dr: Your welcome, it’s my pleasure.

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At Valluvanad hospital, Kanniyampuram

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 CONCLUSION
Antivenoms remain the only specific treatment that can potentially prevent or
reverse most of the effects of snakebite envenoming when administered early in
an adequate therapeutic dose. They are included in WHO’s Model List of
Essential Medicines.

In addition to antivenom, additional medical measures, including administration

of other drugs, artificial respiration, kidney dialysis, wound care, reconstructive
surgery and prosthesis as well as comprehensive rehabilitation services, are
needed to effectively treat snakebite patients.

The best method to treat a snake bite is to use allopathy rather than traditional
methods as there are different types of venoms and they act in our body in
different ways, so the suitable antivenom must be administered at the earliest.
These antivenoms act in our body by the method of competitive inhibition by
competing with the venom for binding in active site.

Even, biotechnology has added to the efficiency of antivenoms so that the

problem of allergies that were faced earlier by the victims were now completely
avoided as the venoms are being prepared from bacteria like
Escherichia coli using genetic engineering.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

❖ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_venom

❖ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakebite
❖ https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwirw
sD5mZflAhUKqY8KHfheBNkQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fe
du.glogster.com%2Fglog%2Fkiller-snakes-
45946591%2F20hg06ad6im%3F%3Dglogpedia-
source&psig=AOvVaw0MAA3j2lwzv5Wzhbu7CHzP&ust=1570986241152
733
❖ https://www.who.int/snakebites/treatment/Antivenom_treatments/en/

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