Immediate active movement following Bitis arietans or Naja mossambica venom injection diminishes or prevents necrosis in mice

Abstract

Tourniquet use, which localises necrotising snake venom to the bite site, is suspected to exacerbate local necrosis. In view of this, the effect of immediate active movement on the outcome of necrotising snake venom injection was investigated in mice. A minimal macroscopic necrotic dose of Bitis arietans venom (2.5 μg) was administered subcutaneously into the dorsum of the right hind feet of 40 mice of which 20 were previously anaesthetised. The 20 non-anaesthetised mice swam for 10 min. All mice were euthanased on day 4. A further 40 mice underwent an identical experiment using 20 μg Naja mossambica venom and were euthanased on day 6. The areas of resulting macroscopic necrosis were measured in the B. arietans venom injected mice, while the largest diameter of macroscopic necrosis was determined in the N. mossambica venom injected mice. Immediate active movement (swimming) significantly prevented or reduced the area of necrosis in comparison to non-ambulant mice.