CroFab Question.

[ChurleR]

Does CroFab polyvalently cover North American Crotalids or just members of the genus <i>Crotalus</i>? My main concern would be what antivenom would be used for a Cottonmouth envenomation. If it's CroFab I will tell the prof to donate some of the funding towards and antivenom bank or a deal with the local hospital. We aren't keeping the Cottonmouths, just doing field grabs. Antivenom info would be nice.

[BWSmith]

Yes, it is effective to different degrees on all north american crotalids. It seems to be particularly effective in SouthEastern Species.

[SCReptiles]

CroFab is designed to treat all North American pit vipers. The results have been acceptable on all species, save the black tail rattlesnake and the timber/canebrake rattlesnake. Little research has been made available, but its commonly known in the industry that there is a problem with these two species. Very few hospitals will have anything other then CroFab to offer. A few may still have some Wyeth Antivenin Crotalidae Polyvalent and some may have some Bioclone (which would be my first pick) but that AV is still considered experimental and hard to come by. It would take a great deal of your funding if you wish to keep it on hand. The going price out of Miami Dade AV bank is $950/veil and that is the lowest price in the country. You will also need special permits to keep it on hand. I would suggest working with your local ER. I have a list of all the ER’s in my area and the area’s I collect logged in my cell phone. I have the direct number to the ER and to the RX. Alert the ER you have a bite victim in route and alert the RX to mix the Fab so it can be ready when you arrive. It takes several minutes to prepare the Fab for the IV drip. You don’t want that time wasted while you are there waiting. Here are the best refernce links to CroFab. Good luck, where are you located and what are you researching?


http://www.savagelabs.com/crofab.htm
http://www.savagelabs.com/images/462531_R1200_CroFab_PI.pdf

[ChurleR]

I'm in Southeastern GA and I'm working with an entomologist to determine if some pathogens are spread from mosquito generation through generation by reptiles. Snakes in particular are known to be hosts for a few. I'll be doing blood draws on all semi-aquatic snakes (but supposed to be aiming mostly for the Cottonmouth population).

[ChurleR]

And thanks much for the info you two, the Dr. and myself will have to try to work out a deal with the Hospital.

[SCReptiles]

do your cottons have to be collected from a certain area? i am housing 7 of them right now, you are welcome to bleed them if you like.

[ChurleR]

We're actually set to hit up field sites where the diseases have been found before in the mosquito population, but thanks very much for the invitation. Will you be at the Greenville, SC show?

[BWSmith]

I think that the SC Hot Show is a requirement to being a Southern hot herper ;)

[ChurleR]

Very nice, at least I'm attempting to meet the required standards ;). I saw you made a post about it on redtailboa.net, is everyone around here too much of a veteran to not know about it?

For anyone interested that reads this thread, drop a reply on here and I'll post some info.