title: Rhabdophis tigrinus is not a pit viper but its bites result in venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy similar to many viper bites.
abstract: As a response to the recent article by Hifumi et al. published in the Journal of Intensive Care, the present correspondence clarifies the family-level taxonomy of the yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus). Further, the relevance of the term 'venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy,' instead of disseminated intravascular coagulation, in describing the procoagulant coagulopathy of R. tigrinus is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Saliyapura 50008 Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793 Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hifumi
authors.affiliation: The Japan Snake Institute, Yabutsuka 3318, Ota, Gumma 379-2301 Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Gakuen 4-7-1, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011 Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaizuka Hospital, Hakosaki 7-7-27, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-0053 Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640 Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ato
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology II, National Institute of Infectious Disease, Gakuen 4-7-1, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011 Japan.
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.affiliation: The Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (KAKETSUKEN), 1-6-1 Okubo, Kita-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto 860-8568 Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ginnaga
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, 3256 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0014 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, 3256 Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-0014 Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koido
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine and Trauma, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, 1-1-1 Fujimicho, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8506 Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793 Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793 Japan.
authors.forename: Kenya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakita
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793 Japan.
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagiike
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793 Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroda
keywords: Coagulopathy; Colubridae; Natricinae; Rhabdophis; Viperidae