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NDTV
8 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Indian Snake Species Can Still Inject Venom Hours After Death, New Study Reveals
A new study has revealed that certain deadly Indian snake species, including cobras and kraits, can still deliver venom even after death. Previously, this ability was thought to be limited to specific species like rattlesnakes and spitting cobras. However, researchers in Assam found that Indian monocled cobras and kraits can inject venom hours after their death, the Independent reported. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Tropical Disease. The research team, led by Susmita Thakur from Namrup College in Assam, documented three incidents involving venomous snakes. Two cases involved monocled cobras (Naja kaouthia) and one involved a black krait (Bungarus lividus), all reported to rural health centres in Assam. First Incident In the first instance, a 45-year-old man killed a snake that was attacking chickens in his home by beheading it. When the man tried to dispose of the snake's body, the severed head bit him on the thumb. He immediately felt severe pain radiating from the bite site to his shoulder. At the hospital, he reported symptoms including repeated vomiting, unbearable pain, and the bite area began to blacken. A photo of the snake helped doctors confirm it was a monocled cobra bite. The man received intravenous antivenom and pain relief medication at the hospital and was discharged after 20 days with follow-up care for wound management. "The pain significantly decreased following this treatment. The patient did not develop any symptoms of neurotoxicity," the researchers noted. Second Incident In a separate incident, a man working in a paddy field accidentally ran over a monocled cobra with his tractor. However, when he stepped off, the supposedly dead snake bit him on the foot. The patient experienced severe pain, swelling, and discolouration at the bite site, as well as two episodes of vomiting in the hospital, indicating envenomation. Although there were no signs of neurotoxicity, the bite caused an ulcer. "Despite being crushed and presumed to be dead for several hours, the snake was capable of delivering a venomous bite, requiring antivenom treatment along with extended wound care," the researchers wrote. Third Incident In the third incident, a black snake entered a house and was killed, with its body discarded in the backyard. A neighbour who later picked up the snake's head was bitten on the finger. Within hours, the neighbour experienced difficulty swallowing and drooping eyelids. Doctors identified the snake as a black krait (Bungarus lividus) and confirmed that the bite occurred despite the snake having been dead for 3 hours. The patient's condition worsened despite receiving 20 vials of polyvalent antivenom, and he became quadriplegic and unresponsive. After 43 hours of respiratory support, his condition improved, and he was discharged from the hospital in good health after six days. Why does it happen? Based on these incidents, researchers cautioned that snakes can still deliver venom even after fatal injuries, posing a risk of severe complications. The researchers found that certain snakes' venom apparatus allows them to deliver venom even after death due to its unique structure. The venom gland, connected to a hollow fang, can still release venom if accidentally pressed while handling the severed head. This can lead to severe symptoms similar to those caused by live snake bites.
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
New snake species found capable of injecting venom even after death – with no loss of potency
Deadly snake species like cobras and kraits in India can still inject venom even after the animal has died, according to a new study. Until now the ability to posthumously inject venom was thought to be limited to a select group of snake species including American rattlesnakes, copperheads, Asian and sub-Saharan spitting cobras, and Australia's red-bellied black snakes. But a new study by scientists in India's eastern state of Assam, published in the journal Frontiers in Tropical Disease, has confirmed that Indian monocled cobras and kraits can also inject venom hours after their death. The research team, led by Susmita Thakur of Namrup College in Assam, documented three such incidents: two involving monocled cobras (Naja kaouthia) and one involving a black krait (Bungarus lividus). All cases were reported to rural health centres in Assam. In the first case, a 45-year-old man encountered a snake attacking chickens in his house and killed it by beheading. However, while trying to discard the body, he was bitten by the decapitated snake's head on his right thumb. 'The bite was followed by severe pain at the bite site, radiating up to his shoulder. He reported to the nearby community hospital,' the researchers wrote. On the way to the hospital, the 45-year-old experienced repeated vomiting and 'unbearable pain', while the bite site began to blacken, the researchers noted. A timely photograph taken of the snake helped doctors identify the bite as that of a monocled cobra. Doctors at the hospital administered intravenous antivenom along with paracetamol for pain relief. 'The pain significantly decreased following this treatment. The patient did not develop any symptoms of neurotoxicity,' the researchers noted. The patient was discharged after 20 days, with regular follow-ups for wound care. In the second case, a man working in a paddy field unknowingly ran over a monocled cobra with his tractor. But when he got off the tractor after work, the snake, presumed dead, bit him on the foot. 'The patient complained of severe pain, progressive swelling, and noticeable colour change at the bite site,' scientists wrote, adding that he experienced two episodes of vomiting in the hospital, consistent with signs of envenomation. Although the patient showed no signs of neurotoxicity, the bite resulted in an ulcer, the researchers noted. 'Despite being crushed and presumed to be dead for several hours, the snake was capable of delivering a venomous bite, requiring antivenom treatment along with extended wound care,' they wrote. In the third reported incident, a black snake entered a house, where it was killed and its body discarded in the backyard. A neighbour who came to see the snake later picked it up by the head and was bitten on the little finger of his right hand. Within hours, the neighbour began experiencing difficulty swallowing and developed drooping eyelids. Doctors identified the dead snake, brought to the hospital along with the patient, as a black krait (Bungarus lividus). 'The victim was envenomated by a snake that had been dead for 3 hours,' the scientists wrote. Despite being given 20 vials of polyvalent antivenom, the patient remained unresponsive, and his condition worsened. 'He gradually became unresponsive to verbal commands,' researchers wrote. The patient's condition improved after 43 hours of respiratory support, and he was discharged from the hospital in 'good health' after six days at the hospital, the scientists wrote. Based on these cases, researchers warned that even after sustaining fatal injuries some snakes can still inject venom, potentially leading to severe complications. They observed that this ability persists because of the unique structural organisation of the venom apparatus in front-fanged snakes. 'The venom gland consists of a large basal lumen for storage of secreted venom, which is connected to a long hollow fang,' the researchers wrote. Envenoming may occur if the venom gland of a dead snake is accidentally pressed while handling its severed head. 'In the cases highlighted here, such envenomings lead to clinical symptoms comparable to those produced by live snakes,' the scientists warned.
