title: A retrospective evaluation of Vipera palaestinae envenomation in 18 cats: (2006-2011).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical signs, clinicopathologic abnormalities, treatment, complications and outcome, and to identify risk factors for death in cats envenomed by Vipera palaestinae (Vp).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Veterinary teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen client-owned cats envenomed by Vp.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All envenomations occurred during the hot season (May to October), mostly in young (<4 years, 66%) domestic shorthair, outdoor or indoor-outdoor cats. Clinical signs included tachypnea (>40/min, 100%), lameness (78%), depression (71%), fang penetration marks (55%), hypothermia (<37.5°C, 43%), hematoma at the envenomation site (27%), tachycardia (>220/min, 20%), and bradycardia (<140/min, 20%). Hematologic abnormalities included thrombocytopenia (89%), hemoconcentration (33%), and leukocytosis (33%). The activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin times were prolonged in 100% and in 93% of the cats at presentation to a veterinarian, and remained prolonged 12-24 hours later in 92% and in 77% of the cats, respectively. Cats displayed increased serum creatine kinase activity (100%) and hyperglycemia (89%). Four cats (22%) did not survive. Median hospitalization time was 2 days. Variables associated with death included lower body weight (P = 0.01), lower initial rectal temperature (P = 0.02), lower initial hematocrit (P < 0.001) and 12-24 hours later (P = 0.001), and lower total plasma protein at 12-24 hours following presentation (P = 0.001). There was no association between death and administration of antivenom (10 mL/cat), fresh frozen plasma, or corticosteroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cats are at least as susceptible as dogs to Vp envenomation. Lower body weight, rectal temperature, and hematocrit at presentation were associated with nonsurvival.
authors.affiliation: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Itzik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lenchner
authors.forename: Itamar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aroch
authors.forename: Gilad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelmer
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bruchim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D017819:Viperidae / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D014757:Viper Venoms
keywords: antivenom; coagulation; feline; snakebite; viper