Question:

A zoo keeper was accidently bitten by a captive snake on the hand. The hand showed local tissue damage and discoloration, oozing of blood from fang wounds, swelling, and local suppuration. The snake could be

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Hemotoxic/Vasculotoxic bites (Vipers) $\rightarrow$ Pain, swelling, discoloration, bleeding, local tissue necrosis.
Neurotoxic bites (Elapids: Cobras, Kraits, Mambas) $\rightarrow$ Minimal local reaction, rapid progressive systemic paralysis.
  • Banded Krait
  • Black Mamba
  • Russell's Viper
  • King Cobra
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Snake venoms are broadly categorized into neurotoxic (characteristic of family Elapidae) and hemotoxic/vasculotoxic (characteristic of family Viperidae) types based on their clinical manifestations.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the venom properties of the given snakes:
- Banded Krait, Black Mamba, and King Cobra belong to the family Elapidae.
Their venoms contain potent post-synaptic or pre-synaptic neurotoxins that block neuromuscular transmission, leading to systemic paralysis and respiratory failure.
Elapid bites cause minimal to no local tissue reaction, swelling, pain, or bleeding at the bite site.
- Russell's Viper belongs to the family Viperidae.
Its venom is highly hemotoxic, vasculotoxic, and cytotropic, containing metalloproteinases, phospholipases, and protease enzymes.
This causes immediate endothelial cell damage, localized activation of the coagulation cascade (leading to consumption of clotting factors), and tissue necrosis.
The clinical presentation of a viper bite is characterized by severe local swelling, tissue damage, necrosis, pain, continuous oozing of blood from the fang wounds, and local suppuration.

Step 2: Final Answer:

The clinical signs are highly indicative of a Russell's Viper bite.
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