Diagnosis of snake envenomation using a simple phospholipase A2 assay.
Diagnosis of snake envenomation is challenging but critical for deciding on antivenom use. Phospholipase A2 enzymes occur commonly in snake venoms and we hypothesized that phospholipase activity detected in human blood post-bite may be indicative of envenomation. Using a simple assay, potentially a bedside test, we detected high phospholipase activity in sera of patients with viper and elapid envenomation compared to minimal activity in non-envenomed patients.
1] School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia [2] Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Kalana
K
Maduwage
Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia.
Margaret A
MA
O'Leary
1] School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia [2] Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia.
Geoffrey K
GK
Isbister
D004789:Enzyme Activation; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D006801:Humans; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000175:diagnosis*
D054467:Phospholipases A2