title: Clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with snake envenomation in domestic animals.
abstract: Envenomation of domestic animals by snakes occurs frequently in certain geographic areas. However, reports describing clinical signs, clinicopathologic abnormalities, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes are sparse. This review summarizes various snake families, venom types associated with harmful snakes, and the significant hematologic, hemostatic, and biochemical abnormalities associated with envenomation. Hematologic abnormalities include RBC membrane abnormalities, hemolysis, hemoconcentration, leukogram changes, and platelet abnormalities, specifically thrombocytopenia. Coagulopathies associated with snake envenomation are well described in human medicine, and many studies have demonstrated properties of venoms that lead to both procoagulation and anticoagulation. As expected, similar abnormalities have been described in domestic animals. Biochemical abnormalities are associated with the effects of venom on tissues such as liver, skeletal and cardiac muscle, vascular endothelium, and kidney as well as effects on protein components and cholesterol. This comprehensive review of clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with envenomation and their relationships to characterized venom constituents should be useful both in the diagnosis and management of envenomation and should serve as a foundation for future research in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. amelia.goddard@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Johan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leisewitz
authors.forename: Salome S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Nagel
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification*; D012911:Snakes / Q000145:classification*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms