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Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Published on: November 3, 2014
Venomous animals: clinical toxinology.
1Toxinology Department, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, Australia. julian.white@adelaide.edu.au
EXS
|April 3, 2010
Summary
Venomous animals cause millions of injuries and deaths worldwide annually. Effective first aid and widely available antivenoms are crucial for managing diverse envenoming syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Clinical Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Venomous animals are diverse, causing significant global health issues.
- Snakebites alone affect over 1.25 million people yearly, leading to many deaths and disabilities.
- Other venomous creatures like scorpions, spiders, and marine life also cause severe envenoming.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the global impact of venomous animal envenoming.
- To describe the wide range of clinical effects and outcomes.
- To evaluate current first aid and medical treatment strategies, including antivenom limitations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of venomous animal diversity and envenoming.
- Analysis of clinical manifestations and toxicological effects.
- Assessment of first aid practices and medical interventions, focusing on antivenom availability and efficacy.
Main Results:
- Venomous animals cause diverse local and systemic effects, including neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, and cardiovascular compromise.
- Effective first aid is limited, with many dangerous practices in use.
- Antivenom, the primary treatment, is not available for all dangerous species and faces supply and evidence limitations.
Conclusions:
- Envenoming by diverse venomous animals presents a major global health challenge.
- Improved, evidence-based first aid and broader access to effective antivenoms are urgently needed.
- Further research is required to support modern, controlled trials for antivenom development and use.
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