Is anybody able to suggest which antivenom/s (if any) would be recommended to treat an envenomation from N. samarensis? A search has revealed that Razi N. oxiana is suggested by the toxinology.com database, but I can't find any evidence to show it would actually be effective. This paper http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/21/6/LB79-b suggests that N. philippinensis monovalent is likely to be appropriate. Unfortunately I don't think either of these antivenoms are stocked by the UK antivenom supplies. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, although I fear the answer is that there isn't anything that is likely to work well.

Many thanks,
David Richards.

Hi Dave,

In extremis, any antivenom covering Asian spitters might be worth trying, although if you do go severely neuro, then it may well be anticholinsterase drugs and/or mechanical ventilation that save your bacon. I don't know what links you have to the hospital, but in bites by the closely related Naja philippinensis, antichlinesterases (neostigmine, edrophonium) have proved very effective, and a Tensilon test (to show whether the drugs would be beneficial) may be worth discussing as part of a treatment protocol. Will mail you the papers.

I have not seen any decent clinical reports of N. samarensis bites, but N. philippinensis is the closest relative, and if the venom effects of that are anything to go by, then you may not have much time after a N. samarensis bite before you are incapacitated. make sure you have pressure bandages handy!

Cheers,

Wolfgang

PS: Don't forget to show this link to me giving medical advice to VL, just to p*$$ him off

Wolfgang,
is there anything known about samarensis venom composition at all? Is it more on the neurotoxic side like philippinensis venom? I have only poor information about philippinensis venom from three paper abstracts from Watt et al.
Do you have the complete papers, and are there more detailled informations?
Cheers
Peter

Thanks very much for the information and paper Wolfgang. I have added it to the bite protocol and printed the paper with key points highlighted to go in as well. I will have a word with somebody in the hospital to see who might be best to discuss this with. The 30minute bite-apnea time for N. philippinensis is certainly food for thought!

Thanks again,
David.

Followjng multiple requests, I have uploaded the Watt et al. paper to my web page:

http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/Watt.pdf

Randy, I don't have any useful papers on N. samarensis venom.

Thank you Wolfgang, that's going to be my bedtime reading tonight -

best regards
Peter

How closely related are N. samarensis and N. philippinensis?? I haven't found much on N. samarensis venom that is frightening 30 minutes and rapid symptoms for N. philippinensis. Good read by the way

They appear to be each other's closest relatives, from our (unpublished so far) DNA data.

Thanks WW