Representative Unverified Cases of Medically Significant “Colubrid” Bites Posted on the Internet1 - "Venomous" Bites from Non-Venomous Snakes - page 278

victim indicated that the major effects occurred hours after the incident. He also
stated that B. dendrophila has, “ … fairly potent venom known as a three-finger toxin
consisting of the same neurotoxins that are present in cobra and mamba venom and
the same hemotoxins as are present in viper venom. Fortunately, they lack an effi-
cient delivery system and do not produce really significant amounts … .”
Comments
As observed in the previous examples of Internet-posted cases, the numerous flaws
and insufficiencies in these reports force their classification as only interesting
anecdote (see Section 4.5). Although some tantalizingly offer subjective informa-
tion regarding infrequently documented bites from several species (many, such as
B. dendrophila , are common in private collections), the standard of clinical docu-
mentation must be held to the same professional and competent expectation as
any other account of medically significant pathology. In fact, one could argue that
the very contentious nature and misinterpretation of toxinological data common to
these reports should require a stringent standard of objective documentation. For
instance, the postsynaptically active three-finger neurotoxins characterized to date
from Duvernoy's secretions of B. dendrophila and other non-front-fanged colubroids
are strongly prey-specific (see Section 4.2). These probably play no role in any effects
that result from bites of these snakes, and to date the medical effects of documented
B. dendrophila bites are insignificant. As stated in Section 4.2, large specimens of all
Boiga spp. should be handled with caution, especially in the setting of the handler hav-
ing chronic illness or predisposing medical comorbidities. Additionally, it is important
to note that the victim reported that he presented at an emergency room and that “they
were totally at a loss as to what to do, I came away with anti-inflammatories and was
told to take aspirin or paracetamol (acetominophen) for the pain, which has eased off
somewhat now without analgesia … ” This also emphasizes the need for medical per-
sonnel to consult with an appropriately trained medical professional when confronted
with an unfamiliar snakebite that caused significant local effects. In this, the case may
also represent a lost opportunity to formally document some significant effects of a
protracted bite from B. dendrophila.