Vipera aspis aspis (V.a.a.) is the most dangerous poisonous snake in South-Eastern France. The clinical symptoms observed after V.a.a. envenomations involve mostly local signs (pain, edema) associated in the more severe cases with systemic symptoms (gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular manifestations). Since 1992, several unusual cases of moderate and severe 'neurotoxic' envenomations by V.a.a....

A toxic phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is isolated from the neurotoxic complex Vipoxin, the major lethal component of the venom of Vipera ammodytes meridionalis. The enzyme is complexed to the synthetic inhibitor elaidoylamide and crystallized. The crystals belong to the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit cell dimensions a=46.57 A, b=82.68 A, c=119.47 A and beta=90 degrees. Initial diffraction d...

This summer accident and emergency departments in coastal towns of Britain may be presented with an unusual problem. Patients will arrive complaining of having sustained an extremely painful sting on the foot while paddling. The foot will be swollen and tender, and close examination will show a small puncture wound surrounded by erythema. Strong analgesics may not afford complete relief. These ...