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Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Published on: November 3, 2014
Fang tip spread, puncture distance, and suction for snake bite.
K R Zamudio1, D L Hardy, M Martins
1Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA. krz2@cornell.edu
Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
|February 15, 2000
Summary
The Extractor, a snake bite first aid device, may not cover both fang punctures from western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) because their fangs spread significantly during defensive bites. This finding impacts the effectiveness of this widely marketed first aid tool for pitviper envenomations.
Area of Science:
- Herpetology
- Toxicology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Snakebites are a significant public health concern, particularly in regions with venomous species like the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).
- Effective first aid is crucial for managing venomous snakebites and improving patient outcomes.
- The Extractor is a commercially available device marketed for snakebite first aid, intended to address envenomation by removing venom.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the spatial distance between fang tip punctures in defensive bites of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).
- To compare the distance between fang tips at penetration with the distance between their retracted fangs.
- To evaluate the efficacy of The Extractor, a snakebite first aid device, in covering both fang punctures of New World pitvipers.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of fang tip puncture distances during defensive bites in Crotalus atrox.
- Comparison of puncture distances with the resting fang base distances.
- Assessment of The Extractor's coverage capabilities based on measured puncture distances.
Main Results:
- Fang tips at penetration were measured to be an average of 112% further apart than their retracted fang bases.
- The spatial separation of fang punctures during a bite significantly exceeds the resting fang width.
Conclusions:
- The Extractor device is unlikely to cover both fang punctures simultaneously in most adult New World pitvipers, including Crotalus atrox.
- The study highlights a critical limitation of The Extractor for treating bites from certain venomous snakes.
- Current first aid recommendations and devices may need re-evaluation based on the biomechanics of snake fangs during envenomation.
