Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
4.1.1.6 Kenya
On the coast of Kenya (between Kilifi and Malindi), there have been four cases of
D. typus bite since 2006 (Sanda Ashe, personal written communication with DAW,
2010). A snake collector who was bitten twice on the forearm by a D. typus while
trying to bag the snake developed hematemesis, bloody diarrhea, and intracranial
hemorrhage about 36 hours after the bite and died while awaiting the arrival of antive-
nom from South Africa. A second snake collector, bitten under similar circumstances,
was already vomiting and passing blood when he was first seen less than 24 h after
the bite. He was treated with boomslang antivenom and recovered rapidly. The third
case was a child who had put his hand into a bird's nest and was bitten at the base
of his middle finger by a juvenile D. typus , which was brought for identification. He
was treated with antivenom before developing any symptoms. The fourth case was
a 6-month-old female infant bitten on the sole of the foot in Kilifi while playing on
the ground. The snake inflicted a protracted bite, and the child continued to bleed
from the puncture wounds for several days (leukocytes 17.1 10 9 /L, hemoglo-
bin 7.2 g/dL, hematocrit 22.5%, platelets 388 10 9 /L). She received 5 units of blood
and Sanofi-Pasteur Fav-Afrique antivenom that did not reverse the bleeding, but
she ultimately recovered (Sanda Ashe, personal written communication with DAW,
2010).
4.1.1.7 Nigeria
Among 207 bites by identified snakes in northern Nigeria (1970-1975), seven were
by proven non-front-fanged colubroid snakes, none resulting in significant symp-
toms: Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (herald snake, red- or white-lipped snake; rooil-
ipslang) (1), Telescopus variegatus (variegated tiger snake, West African cat snake)
(2), Psammophis sibilans (olive grass or sand snake; olyfkleurige grasslang) (2), and
Lamprophis fuliginosus (common African house snake, brown house snake; chakusa)
(2) (Warrell, 1979).
4.1.1.8 Middle East
In Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries, the black phase of the (European) whip
snake, Dolichophis (Coluber) jugularis ( Plate 4.70A and B ), is greatly feared under the
local names “arbid,” “abrid,” or “urbid” (Corkill, 1932; Thesiger, 1964). This reputation
is based on its large size (up to 2.5 m in total length), aggressive display when cornered,
and its resemblance to the black desert cobras ( Walterinnesia morgani and W. aegyptia ;
Plate 4.71 ). There are no reliable reports of bites in the region, and the fatalities attributed
to it by the local people are likely to have been caused by Walterinnesia spp. or by the
blunt-nosed or Levantine viper ( Macrovipera lebetina ; Plate 4.72 ).
4.1.1.9 Guam: A Distinctive Set of Circumstances
Guam, the largest island in Micronesia, presents an unusual opportunity to assess the
medical importance of a non-front-fanged colubroid species. Only two snake spe-
cies are found on Guam. One is a fossorial member of the “primitive” superfamily
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