Viperfav(TM) is a commercial F(ab')₂ antivenom prepared against European vipers venom. It is safe and effective for treating envenomation caused by Vipera aspis and Vipera berus. Therapeutic efficacy for treating Vipera ammodytes ammodytes (V. a. ammodytes) envenoming has not been yet described, although protective efficacy has been demonstrated in preclinical studies. We report on a 32-year-ol...

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of snakebites in Hungary between 1970 and 2006 were surveyed. A total of 97 cases were recorded from 21 species, including the two native vipers, Vipera berus and Vipera ursinii, and various exotic species represented by Viperidae, Elapidae, and Colubridae. Bites by native species on laymen are uncommon (17 cases) and present trivial clinical manifestations....

BACKGROUND Bites by poisonous European snakes of the genus Vipera lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms such as generalized oedema, hypotension, gastrointestinal symptoms, haemolysis and renal dysfunction. Not rarely anaphylactic symptoms like urticaria, localized angioedema and asthma are observed. OBJECTIVE To look for snake venom-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies in pat...

In Israel, Vipera xantina palestinae (V.x.p.) is the most common venomous snake, accounting for several hundred cases of envenomation in humans and domestic animals every year, with a mortality rate of 0.5 to 2%. In this review we will briefly address the research developments relevant to our present understanding of the structure and function of V.x.p. venom with emphasis on venom disintegrins...

Because snake venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive molecules, snake bites produce a large panel of symptoms which cannot be totally prevented by current antivenoms. Thus investigating plant extracts for antivenomics therapy approaches seemed relevant. Here, we evaluated the potency of the aqueous Buds extract of Eucalyptus (ABEE) to counteract the main enzymatic activities of Montivipera bo...

Background – The aim of present study was to investigate a possible link between the creatine kinase (CK) content in the V. xanthia raddei venom and its acute toxicity values. Methods – Creatine kinase, the ATP-generating enzyme belonging to a phosphotransferases family, has been completely purified from the venom of Vipera xanthia raddei using a novel method of affinity chromatography on ADP-S...

Snake venoms contain four classes of metalloproteases that all have a typical zinc-chelating sequence (HEXXHGXXH). N-terminal sequences and internal sequences of different purified metalloproteases were determined using Edman sequencing and LC MS/MS technique. Oligonucleotides were designed and used as primers for cDNA cloning from Vipera lebetina venom gland cDNA library. We found that isoform...