Effects of taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) venom on erythrocyte morphology and blood viscosity in a human victim in vivo and in vitro.
The case of a snake handler with envenoming due to Australian taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) showing marked morphological changes in his red blood cells is presented. The red cells underwent sphero-echinocytic transformation and in subsequent experiments in vitro the effects of taipan venom on red cells were further characterized. Taipan venom induced sphero-echinocytic transformation at nanogram/ml concentrations and led to a marked increase in whole blood viscosity. These changes have not been featured in previous reports of taipan envenomation and are reported to highlight the diagnostic value of blood film examination in cases of suspected envenomation. The significance of the hyperviscosity, and consequent reduction in blood fluidity, is unknown and requires further investigation.
Arthur
C K
CK
Department of Haematology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
McCallum
D
D
Loveday
D J
DJ
Collins
A
A
Isbister
J P
JP
Fisher
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012910:Snake Venoms