Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 101, Issue 1 , Pages 85-90 , January 2007

First authenticated cases of life-threatening envenoming by the hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale) in India

  • J.K. Joseph

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • I.D. Simpson

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • N.C.S. Menon

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • M.P. Jose

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • K.J. Kulkarni

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • G.B. Raghavendra

      Affiliations

    • Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre, Snakebite Research Unit, P.O. Box 23, Angamaly 683572, Kerala, India
  • ,
  • D.A. Warrell

      Affiliations

    • University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 1865 221332; fax: +44 1865 220 984.

Received 13 February 2006 ,Revised 22 March 2006 ,Accepted 23 March 2006.

References 

  1. Bhat RN. Viperine snake bite poisoning in Jammu. J. Indian Med. Assoc. 1974;63:383–392
  2. Chippaux J-P. Snake-bites: appraisal of the global situation. Bull. World Health Organ. 1998;76:515–524
  3. de Silva A, Wijekoon ASB, Jayasena L, Abeysekara CK, Bao CX, Hutton RA, et al. Haemostatic dysfunction and acute renal failure following envenoming by Merrem's hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) in Sri Lanka: first authenticated case. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1994;88:209–212
  4. Dharmaratne L, Gunawardena U. Generalised bleeding tendency and acute renal ailure following Merrem's hump-nosed viper bite. J. Ceylon. Coll. Physns. 1988-9;21–22:37–42
  5. Gloyd, H.K., Conant, R., 1990. Snakes of the Agkistrodon complex. A monographic review. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca, New York.
  6. Ho M, Warrell DA, Looareesuwan S, Phillips RE, Chanthanavich P, Karbwang J, et al. Clinical significance of venom antigen levels in patients envenomed by the Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma). Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1986;35:579–587
  7. Karunatilakal DH, Herath GWDS, Lalan HHS, Perera KDNI. Envenomation by the hump nosed viper Hypnale hypnale in children: a pilot study. Sri Lanka J. Child Health. 2001;30:8–11
  8. Kularathna SAM, Ranatunga N. Severe systemic effect of Merrem's hump-nosed viper bites. Ceylon Med. J. 1999;44:169–170
  9. Mangili G. I veleni ofidici e la coagulazione del sangue. Arch. Zool. Ital. 1956;44:165–214
  10. Perumainar, M., 1975. Renal damage following hump nosed viper bite. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, 32nd Annual Session, Colombo, December 1975, 31, 14 [abstract].
  11. Perumainar, M., 1977. Clinical manifestations following hump-nosed viper bites. Sri Lanka Medical Association, 90th Anniversary Sessions, Colombo, 23–26 March 1977, p. 10 [abstract].
  12. Premawardena AP, Seneviratne SL, Gunatilake SB, De Silva HJ. Excessive fibrinolysis: the coagulopathy following Merrem's hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1998;58:821–823
  13. Reitz CJ. Boomslang bite—time of onset of clinical envenomation. S. Afr. Med. J. 1989;76:39–40
  14. Sellahewa KH, Kumararatne MP. Envenomation by the hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale). Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1994;51:823–825
  15. Sellahewa KH, Gunawardena G, Kumararatne MP. Efficacy of antivenom in the treatment of severe local envenomation by the hump-nosed viper Hypnale hypnale). Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1995;53:260–262
  16. Smith MA. The Fauna of British India Ceylon and Burma including the whole of the Indo-Chinese sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia Vol. III. –Serpentes. London: Taylor and Francis; 1943;
  17. Swaroop S, Grabb B. Snakebite mortality in the world. Bull. World Health Organ. 1954;10:35–76
  18. Theakston RDG, Lloyd-Jones MJ, Reid HA. Mico-Elisa for detecting and assaying snake venom and venom-antibody. Lancet. 1977;2:639–641
  19. Van Cott EM, Laposata M. Coagulation. In:  Jacobs DS,  DeMott WR,  Oxley DK editor. The Laboratory Test Handbook. 5th ed.. Cleveland: Lexi-Comp; 2001;p. 327–358
  20. Varagunam T, Panabokke RG. Bilateral necrosis of the kidneys following snakebite. Postgrad. Med. J. 1970;46:449–451
  21. Viravan C, Looareesuwan S, Kosakarn W, Wuthiekanun V, McCarthy CJ, Stimson AF, et al. A national hospital-based survey of snakes responsible for bites in Thailand. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 1992;86:101–106
  22. Warrell, D.A. (Ed.), 1999. WHO/SEARO guidelines for the clinical management of snakebite in the Southeast Asian region. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health 30 (Suppl. 1), 1–85.
  23. Warrell DA, Davidson NMcD, Greenwood BM, Ormerod LD, Pope HM, Watkins BJ, et al. Poisoning by bites of the saw-scaled or carpet viper (Echis carinatus) in Nigeria. Q. J. Med. 1977;46:33–62
  24. Whitaker R, Captain A. Snakes of India. The Field Guide. Chennai, India: Draco Books; 2004;

PII: S0035-9203(06)00162-3

doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.03.008

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 101, Issue 1 , Pages 85-90 , January 2007