Toxicologic information resources for reptile envenomations.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Toxicology
• Herpetology

Background:

• The U.S. is the world's largest reptile importer, with 1.5-2.0 million households owning reptiles.
• Snakes constitute 11% of reptile imports, and up to 9% of these may be venomous.
• Envenomations by non-indigenous venomous species are rare but serious medical emergencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide toxicologic information resources for managing snake envenomations.
• To highlight the risks associated with exotic venomous reptiles in the U.S.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on exotic reptile imports and envenomations.
• Identification of primary sources of exotic envenomation incidents.

Main Results:

• Exotic venomous snake envenomations primarily occur in academic settings (universities, zoos, museums) and from amateur collectors.
• Amateur collectors involved in importation, propagation, and trade are a significant source of these incidents.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of exotic snake envenomations requires accessible toxicologic resources.
• Public health awareness and regulation may be needed to mitigate risks from the exotic pet trade.