title: Protein C activity in dogs envenomed by Vipera palaestinae.
abstract: Vipera palaestinae is responsible for most envenomations in humans and domestic animal in Israel. Its venom has pro- and anticoagulant properties. Protein C is a major natural anticoagulant, preventing excess clotting and thrombosis. This study investigated protein C activity and its prognostic value, as well as several other hemostatic analytes in dogs (Canis familiaris) accidently envenomed by V. palaestinae. Protein C activity was compared between envenomed dogs and 33 healthy control dogs. Mean protein C was lower in dogs envenomed by V. palaestinae compared to controls (12.9% vs. 22.9%, respectively; P < 0.01). It was positively correlated with antithrombin activity (r = 0.3, P = 0.04), but not with other hemostatic analytes. The overall mortality rate was 13%, and at presentation no significant protein C activity difference was noted between survivors and non-survivors. A receiver operator characteristics analysis of protein C activity as a predictor of mortality had an area under the curve of 0.7 (95% confidence interval 0.52-0.87). A protein C cutoff point of 8% corresponded to sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 57%, respectively. Dogs diagnosed with consumptive coagulopathy (14%) tended to have lower protein C activity compared to others; however, their mortality did differ from that of other dogs. This is the first study assessing protein C activity in V. palaestinae victims. Decreased protein C activity in such dogs may play a role in formation of thrombosis and hemostatic derangement as well as inflammation in V. palaestinae envenomations.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hadar
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelmer
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Gilad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bruchim
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 761001, Israel. Electronic address: aroch@agri.huji.ac.il.
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis; D008297:Male; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism*; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D017819:Viperidae
chemical_list: D011486:Protein C; D014757:Viper Venoms
keywords: Canine; Coagulation; Consumptive coagulopathy; Hemostasis; Israel; Viper