Anti-venom Project

[JNtulume]

Hi,

Anybody interested in an anti-venom project? Especially for the African species of venomous snakes?

[Will0W783]

I'd be interested possibly, but you have to give me more information on what is involved.

[JNtulume]

Kimberly

Thank you for your feedback,

I do not know what exactly it takes and would perhaps have to do some studies to find out, i just look at the number of snakes that we venomous snakes that we have here and are killed everyday due to lack of knowledge visa vie the cost of antivenom and thought perhaps we could do something.

Do you have any ideas or a contact we can ask?

[Will0W783]

I think perhaps your best bet would be to research existing papers on venom composition. Some of the antivenins, although not marketed for certain species, can be effective on them. For example, there is a close evolutionary link between Echis (sawscale/carpet vipers) and Atheris (bush vipers). Therefore, although there is no antivenin specific for Atheris, Echis antivenin has effectively neutralized some Atheris bites.

I'm not sure about the availability of antivenins overseas; I know that there are banks here in the US that stock them and you pretty much have to have it flown to a hospital local to you in the event of a bite.

I like the website WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources (http://www.toxinology.com) for researching snake species and appropriate antivenins.

Let me know what I can do to help!