Lecture 

7
ANIMAL POISONS
Mohamed Sadek Abdel‐Bakky, PhD
 1. Snakes

Ejected from the salivary glands.

Bites on head and trunk are more dangerous.

The mortality among children is twice as high as among adults.

The venoms are mixtures of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and

enzymes and contain procoagulants and anticoagulants,
hyaluronidase, acetylcholinesterase, cardiotoxins, haemotoxins,
neurotoxins and metallic ions.
 Toxicity of snake venoms

a‐ Neurotoxic manifestations:

Neurotoxin A and B cause convulsion and occasionally, psychotic

behavior.

The myoneural junction is also affected by neurotoxin B, which

results in locomotor disturbances manifested by weakness of the
muscles, fasciculations and paralysis.

The severity depends upon the potency of a particular venom

and the amount injected.
 b‐ Haematological manifestations

oLocal swelling and pain, oedema and bleeding from

the mouth, nose, eyes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract
and kidneys may occur as a result of the endothelial
damage of small vessels and lymphatic channels.

oChanges in the red blood cells and their ability to

transport oxygen may result in bleeding, decrease in
haemoglobin and tissue anoxia, leading to necrosis.

oCirculatory failure is the usual cause of death.

 c‐ Other systemic manifestations

 These include elevation or depression of

temperature, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, pain and
restlessness.

 Tachycardia is frequently seen and occasionally,

bradycardia develops.

 Renal failure from acute tubular necrosis has been

reported.
 Treatment

Wash the bitten area with water.

Immobilize the patients and bitten area.
Tourniquet is applied above the bite to prevent or
slow down the spread of the venom.
Sucking out venom by mouth may harm the affected
area directly.
A suction device can be placed over the bite to help
draw venom out of the wound without cut as it
causes damage of the nerves and vessels and
increases the risk of infection.
Respiration is maintained by artificial methods and
oxygen.

Blood transfusion may be useful.

Give specific antivenom.

Tetanus and local infection should be prevented by

tetanus antitoxin and penicillin.

Analeptics and cardiac stimulants in case of collapse.

 2. Scorpions

• Scorpions are frequently located under rocks and

buried in sand.

• The last segment of the tail of the scorpion is

equipped with a stinger called telson.

• The toxicity of scorpion venom is higher than that of

snakes, but the scorpion injects a much smaller
amount of venom.
 Toxicity of scorpion venom

1) mild tingling followed by spasm of the throat,

restlessness, muscular fibrillation, abdominal
cramps, convulsions and respiratory failure.

2) The patient suffers from visual disturbances,

headache and impairment of speech.

3) The symptoms may include excessive sweating,

lacrimation, polyuria with glucosuria and
hyperglycaemia.
 Treatment
1. Immobilize the patient and apply a constriction band to limit absorption of
venom.
2. Try to draw out the venom immediately with the extractor pump.
3. Give artificial respiration with O2 if respiration is depressed.
4. Apply cold packs (10‐15oC) to help slow absorption.
5. Administration of specific scorpion antivenom.
6. Control convulsions by the use of diazepam.
7. Inject calcium gluconate, 10 ml of 10% solution slowly intravenously, to
help relieve muscular cramps.
8. Narcotics are contraindicated as there is evidence that potentiate the
venom.
9. Atropine sulfate may be indicated to control excessive parasympathetic
manifestations.
10. Administer a tetanus toxoid to prevent infection.