Abstract
This article reports the first documented treatment of venomous snakebite with a polyvalent snake antivenom from the South African Institute for Medical Research in endangered African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Three juvenile male animals (6.5 months of age) showed clinical signs after being bitten by an unidentified venomous snake. The signs included loss of appetite, disorientation, impaired locomotion, excessive facial swelling, profuse salivation, reduced respiratory effort and an apparent depressed mental state. Intravenous treatment with isotonic Ringer lactate solution, hetastarch 6% and dexamethazone, subcutaneous administration of procaine benzylpenicillin and benzathine benzylpenicillin, and ultimately intravenous administration of the polyvalent snake antivenom resulted in the complete recovery of all three wild dogs.
Highlights
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the continent’s most threatened large predators, with the free-range stock estimated at 6371 individuals in 725 packs (IUCN/SSC 2007)
There is no documented case of snakebite treatment for African wild dogs
Publications dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of venomous snakebites in southern Africa are available for humans (Blaylock 2005) and domestic dogs (Leisewitz, Blaylock & Kettner 2004)
Summary
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the continent’s most threatened large predators, with the free-range stock estimated at 6371 individuals in 725 packs (IUCN/SSC 2007). There is no documented case of snakebite treatment for African wild dogs. The main purpose of this case study is to report on the first case of using a polyvalent snake antivenom produced by the South African Institute of Medical Research (SAIMR) to treat venomous snakebite in the endangered African wild dog.
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