Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2.2.4 Reported Fatal Outcome from a
P. olfersii
Bite: Rumor or Reality?
There is a single report of a purported fatality that resulted from a
P. olfersii
bite
(Centro de Informações Toxicológicas do Rio Grande do Sul, 1996). This report has
been frequently cited in the literature and is used to support a perception of lethal
potential of this species. However, further scrutiny of this report fails to provide evi-
dence supporting the reported fatality. The report is primarily an anecdotal account
of
P. olfersii
(“Cobra verde, Cobra cipó”) bites reportedly inflicted on two children,
with one of them purportedly succumbing to the effects of the bite:
In 1992, two children bitten by a Vine Snake were brought to the CITRS. Based
on the childrens' relatives' testimonies, this animal showed itself very aggressive,
wrapping around the arm of one of the children and biting it several times. One of
the children from the Region sanitária de Cachoeira do Sul was killed
Centro de Informações Toxicológicas do Rio Grande do Sul (1996)
Most of this very brief report focuses on increased awareness of “colubrids” and
the
potential
“grave risks” in pediatric patients, including third spacing/massive edema
and electrolyte disturbances. The authors do soundly recommend a 24-h observation
period for any patient presenting with a medically significant
Philodryas
spp. bite.
These warnings and recommendations do not include referenced examples of repre-
sentative cases, but in relation to “rear-fanged colubrid snakes,” the authors comment
that “
…
the potential gravity of these accidents and the significant number of testimo-
nies from the international literature
…
has set an alert for all of the doctors of all of
the risks presented, especially in children” (Centro de Informações Toxicológicas do
Rio Grande do Sul, 1996). Written 4 years after the cited incidents, the report contains
no information about the specific identification of the reportedly culprit snake(s), the
presentation, clinical features, or the specific cause of death. Also, as the cited refer-
ence (Centro de Informações Toxicológicas do Rio Grande do Sul, 1996) is very dif-
ficult to procure, some subsequent authors may have translated only a small section
of available sections of the original paper, and these were likely taken out of context
(e.g., descriptions for awareness of possible effects of a hypothetical bite incorrectly
assigned to the very brief anecdotal account of the two children purportedly bitten
by
P. olfersii
). It must be considered that the bite may have been inflicted by a crota-
line because some—such as the two-striped forest pit viper, Amazonian pit viper or
palm viper,
Bothrops
(
Bothriopsis
Campbell and Lamar, 2004)
bilineata
(Monzel and
Wüster, 2008) (
Plate 4.76
)—are also known in some Brazilian communities as “Cobra
verde.” As the extralimital range of
B. bilineata
is north of the reported site of the two
cases, this species is provided only as an example of how local names may be broadly
applied to very different snakes. In fact, the alleged death itself is unproven as reported,
and if it did occur may have resulted from causes unrelated to a
P. olfersii
bite (e.g.,
trauma from a motor vehicle accident on the way to a hospital), if it even occurred at
all. In other words, due to a lack of any minimal standard of supporting data/informa-
tion (see Section 4.5), the report must be classified as anecdote. As there are no spe-
cific clinical data, established linkage of the purported fatal outcome with the reported
bite or detailed description of the victim's circumstances/cause of death, this case can-
