King Kobra
10-31-07, 06:49 AM
What are the types of snake venom?
Venoms can very broadly to divided into two types; neurotoxic and hemotoxic. Hemotoxic venoms affect the blood, muscles and organs. Bleeding occurs and necrosis (tissue death) is a possibility. These bites are typically painful and may involve the loss of digits or limbs. Neurotoxic bites affect the nervous system and may result in the loss of respiratory function and lead to death. While a snake usually won’t fit directly into one division, they may be broadly placed in either of these two.
Though what you have is some what correct it is missing information there is actually three types of venom.
Hemotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemotoxic) venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system.
Neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxic) venom acts on the nervous system and brain.
Cytotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic) venom has a localized action at the site of the bite.
Hemotoxic
Hemotoxins, haemotoxins or hematotoxins are toxins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxin) that destroy red blood cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell) (that is, cause hemolysis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolysis)), disrupt blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood)clotting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombus), and/or cause organ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_%28anatomy%29) degeneration and generalized tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_tissue) damage. The term hemotoxin is to some degree a misnomer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misnomer) since toxins that damage the blood also damage other tissues. An injury due to a hemotoxic agent is often very painful, and permanent damage, such as loss of an affected limb, is possible even with prompt treatment.
Hemotoxins are frequently employed by venomous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom_%28poison%29) animals, including pit vipers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalinae). Animal venoms contain enzymes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme) and other proteins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein) that are hemotoxic or neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin) or occasionally both (as in the Mojave Rattlesnake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_scutulatus) and similar species). In addition to killing the prey, part of the function of a hemotoxic venom for some animals is to aid digestion. The venom breaks down protein in the region of the bite, making prey easier to digest.
The process by which a hemotoxin causes death is much slower than that of a neurotoxin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin). Snakes which envenomate a prey animal may have to track the prey as it runs (or otherwise moves) away. Typically, a mammalian prey item will stop fleeing not because it is dead but because shock sets in due to trauma from the poison bite. Dependent upon species, size, location of bite and the amount of venom injected, symptoms in humans such as nausea, disorientation, and headaches may be delayed for several hours.
Hemotoxins are used in diagnostic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnosis) studies of the coagulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coagulation) system. Lupus anticoagulans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiphospholipid_syndrome) is detected by changes in the dilute Russell's viper venom time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilute_Russell%27s_viper_venom_time) (DRVVT), which is a laboratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory) assay based on—as its name indicates—venom of the Russell's viper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboia).
Neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxic)
Neurotoxicity occurs when the exposure to natural or manmade toxic substances, which are called neurotoxins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin), alters the normal activity of the nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system). This can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron), key cells that transmit and process signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Neurotoxicity can result from exposure to substances used in chemotherapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotherapy), radiation treatment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_treatment), drug therapies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_therapy) and organ transplants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_transplant), as well as exposure to heavy metals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metals) such as lead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_%28element%29) and mercury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29), certain foods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food) and food additives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive), pesticides (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide), industrial and/or cleaning solvents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvent), cosmetics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics), and some naturally occurring substances. Symptoms may appear immediately after exposure or be delayed. They may include limb weakness or numbness, loss of memory, vision, and/or intellect, headache, cognitive and behavioral problems and sexual dysfunction. Individuals with certain disorders may be especially vulnerable to neurotoxins.
The name implies the role of a neurotoxin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin) although the term 'neurotoxic' may be used more loosely to describe states that are known to cause physical brain damage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_damage) but where no obvious neurotoxin has been identified.
The term neurotoxic is used to describe a substance, condition or state that damages the nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system) and/or brain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain), usually by killing neurons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron). The term is generally used to describe a condition or substance that has been shown to result in observable physical damage. The presence of neurocognitive deficits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurocognitive_deficit) alone is not usually considered sufficient evidence of neurotoxicity, as many substances exist which may impair neurocognitive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurocognitive) performance without resulting in the death of neurons. This may be due to the direct action of the substance, with the impairment and neurocognitive deficits being temporary, and resolving when the substance is metabolised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism) from the body. In some cases the level or exposure-time may be critical, with some substances only becoming neurotoxic in certain doses or time periods.
Cytotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic)
Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicity) to cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_%28biology%29). Examples of toxic agents are a chemical substance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance) or an immune cell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_cell).
Cytotoxicity can be measured by the MTT assay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTT_assay), Trypan blue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypan_blue) (TB) assay, Sulforhodamine B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulforhodamine_B) (SRB) assay, WST assay and clonogenic assay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonogenic_assay).
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody-dependent_cell-mediated_cytotoxicity) (ADCC) describes the cell-killing ability of certain lymphocytes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte), which requires the target cell being marked by an antibody (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody). Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, on the other hand, does not have to be mediated by antibodies; nor does complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), which is mediated by the complement system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complement_system).
Three groups of cytotoxic lymphocytes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte) are distinguished:
Cytotoxic T cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic_T_cell)
Natural killer cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell)
Natural Killer T cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Killer_T_cell)============================ =============================
Just thought I would let you know.
Venoms can very broadly to divided into two types; neurotoxic and hemotoxic. Hemotoxic venoms affect the blood, muscles and organs. Bleeding occurs and necrosis (tissue death) is a possibility. These bites are typically painful and may involve the loss of digits or limbs. Neurotoxic bites affect the nervous system and may result in the loss of respiratory function and lead to death. While a snake usually won’t fit directly into one division, they may be broadly placed in either of these two.
Though what you have is some what correct it is missing information there is actually three types of venom.
Hemotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemotoxic) venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular system.
Neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxic) venom acts on the nervous system and brain.
Cytotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic) venom has a localized action at the site of the bite.
Hemotoxic
Hemotoxins, haemotoxins or hematotoxins are toxins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxin) that destroy red blood cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell) (that is, cause hemolysis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolysis)), disrupt blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood)clotting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombus), and/or cause organ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_%28anatomy%29) degeneration and generalized tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_tissue) damage. The term hemotoxin is to some degree a misnomer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misnomer) since toxins that damage the blood also damage other tissues. An injury due to a hemotoxic agent is often very painful, and permanent damage, such as loss of an affected limb, is possible even with prompt treatment.
Hemotoxins are frequently employed by venomous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venom_%28poison%29) animals, including pit vipers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalinae). Animal venoms contain enzymes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme) and other proteins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein) that are hemotoxic or neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin) or occasionally both (as in the Mojave Rattlesnake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotalus_scutulatus) and similar species). In addition to killing the prey, part of the function of a hemotoxic venom for some animals is to aid digestion. The venom breaks down protein in the region of the bite, making prey easier to digest.
The process by which a hemotoxin causes death is much slower than that of a neurotoxin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin). Snakes which envenomate a prey animal may have to track the prey as it runs (or otherwise moves) away. Typically, a mammalian prey item will stop fleeing not because it is dead but because shock sets in due to trauma from the poison bite. Dependent upon species, size, location of bite and the amount of venom injected, symptoms in humans such as nausea, disorientation, and headaches may be delayed for several hours.
Hemotoxins are used in diagnostic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnosis) studies of the coagulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coagulation) system. Lupus anticoagulans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiphospholipid_syndrome) is detected by changes in the dilute Russell's viper venom time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilute_Russell%27s_viper_venom_time) (DRVVT), which is a laboratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laboratory) assay based on—as its name indicates—venom of the Russell's viper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboia).
Neurotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxic)
Neurotoxicity occurs when the exposure to natural or manmade toxic substances, which are called neurotoxins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin), alters the normal activity of the nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system). This can eventually disrupt or even kill neurons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron), key cells that transmit and process signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Neurotoxicity can result from exposure to substances used in chemotherapy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemotherapy), radiation treatment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_treatment), drug therapies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_therapy) and organ transplants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_transplant), as well as exposure to heavy metals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metals) such as lead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_%28element%29) and mercury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29), certain foods (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food) and food additives (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive), pesticides (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide), industrial and/or cleaning solvents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solvent), cosmetics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics), and some naturally occurring substances. Symptoms may appear immediately after exposure or be delayed. They may include limb weakness or numbness, loss of memory, vision, and/or intellect, headache, cognitive and behavioral problems and sexual dysfunction. Individuals with certain disorders may be especially vulnerable to neurotoxins.
The name implies the role of a neurotoxin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotoxin) although the term 'neurotoxic' may be used more loosely to describe states that are known to cause physical brain damage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_damage) but where no obvious neurotoxin has been identified.
The term neurotoxic is used to describe a substance, condition or state that damages the nervous system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_system) and/or brain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain), usually by killing neurons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuron). The term is generally used to describe a condition or substance that has been shown to result in observable physical damage. The presence of neurocognitive deficits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurocognitive_deficit) alone is not usually considered sufficient evidence of neurotoxicity, as many substances exist which may impair neurocognitive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurocognitive) performance without resulting in the death of neurons. This may be due to the direct action of the substance, with the impairment and neurocognitive deficits being temporary, and resolving when the substance is metabolised (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism) from the body. In some cases the level or exposure-time may be critical, with some substances only becoming neurotoxic in certain doses or time periods.
Cytotoxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic)
Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicity) to cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_%28biology%29). Examples of toxic agents are a chemical substance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substance) or an immune cell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_cell).
Cytotoxicity can be measured by the MTT assay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTT_assay), Trypan blue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypan_blue) (TB) assay, Sulforhodamine B (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulforhodamine_B) (SRB) assay, WST assay and clonogenic assay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonogenic_assay).
Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody-dependent_cell-mediated_cytotoxicity) (ADCC) describes the cell-killing ability of certain lymphocytes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte), which requires the target cell being marked by an antibody (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibody). Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity, on the other hand, does not have to be mediated by antibodies; nor does complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), which is mediated by the complement system (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complement_system).
Three groups of cytotoxic lymphocytes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lymphocyte) are distinguished:
Cytotoxic T cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytotoxic_T_cell)
Natural killer cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell)
Natural Killer T cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Killer_T_cell)============================ =============================
Just thought I would let you know.