Snake Research Articles

Observations on Morphometry, Egg Size and Juveniles of the Endemic Caenophidian Snake Xylophis perroteti (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril, 1854) in the Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India

The caenophidian snake genus Xylophis Beddome, 1878, is endemic to the southern Western Ghats region of peninsular India. Within the genus Xylophis , three species are currently recognized - Xylophis perroteti (Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril, 1854), Xylophis stenorhynchus (Gunther, 1875) and a new species Xylophis captaini (Gower and Winkler, 2007). Among these snakes, X. perroteti has restricted distribution in the Nilgiris and Wayanaad in North Kerala. This snake found in high ranges of the Western Ghats over 1500 m altitude in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Expression of a novel adjuvant TFPR1 in Pichia pastoris and its identification

Objective To express a recombinant protein TFPR1 (the functional region of the snake venom proteins from Trimeresurus flavoviridis) in Pichia pastoris expression system. Methods The target gene was codon-optimized and synthesized according to the sequence of the conserved structural domain of triflin and then cloned into the Pichia pastoris expression vector pPICZαA to construct the recombinant expression plasmid pPICZαA-TFPR1. The recombinant plasmid pPICZαA-TFPR1 was electroporated into the yeast strain X33. The transformed strains carrying expression plasmid were screened out with Zeocin and then induced by methanol to express the recombinant protein TFPR1. ELISA was performed for the screening of positive clones. SDS-PAGE and Western blot were used for further identification of the expressed products. Results The recombinant plasmid pPICZαA-TFPR1 was successfully constructed. The recombinant protein TFPR1 was expressed in a secreted form at a molecular weight of 16×103. Conclusion The recombinant protein TFPR1 was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris expression system, which laid a foundation for further researches on its biological function and application as an adjuvant. Key words: Adjuvant; Pathogenesis related protein 1 (PR-1); Pichia pastoris; Secretory expression

Anticoagulant effect of myotoxic phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of the snake Bothrops asper (Viperidae).

La fosfolipasa A 2 miotoxica del veneno de Bothrops asper (terciopelo) prolonga el tiempo de recalcificacion de plasmas de cinco especies de mamiferos. La fosfolipasa A 2 hidroliza los fosfolipidos del plasma, en tanto que su accion inhibitoria es revertida cuando se adicionan fosfolipidos plaquetarios. Estas dos observaciones sugieren que la accion anticoagulante se debe a una alteracion de los fosfolipidos plasma­ticos necesarios para la coagulacion. Tanto la actividad enzimatica como la anticoagulante se mantuvieron aun despues de calentamiento a 95°C durante 10 min. Pese a su accion anticoagulante in vitro , la fosfolipasa A 2 no prolonga el tiempo de coagulacion luego de inoculacion intravenosa en ratones.

Reproductive cycles of the coral snake Micrurus nigrocinctus (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Costa Rica

The coral snake Micrurus nigrocinctus has two reproductive patterns in Costa Rica. Specimens of the Pacific population (M. n. nigrocinctus) mate during the early dry season (November, January). Oviposition takes place in February and March; the mean number of eggs was 7.9 (5-14) in this population. Births occur between April and June after 47-81 days of incubation. The total length of neonates is 168-212 mm, and the weight is 1.2-2.0 g. Specimens of the Atlantic population (M. n. mosquitensis) seem to have an extended breeding season. Oviposition in this subspecies was observed in March and June; the mean number of eggs was 6.7 (5-8). Births take place in May and August, after two months of incubation. Neonates have 173-189 mm in total length and 1.9-2.4 g in mass. Adult females are longer than males, especially in M. n. mosquitensis.

Transporting snake bite victims to appropriate health facility to save lives through emergency ambulance service in India

Transporting snake bite victims to appropriate health facility to save lives through emergency ambulance service in India

Distribution and Conservation Status of the Caenophidian Snake, Xylophis captaini Gower & Winkler, 2007 in the Western Ghats, India

We update the distribution of the little known Captain's Wood Snake ( Xylophis captaini ) in the Western Ghats, based on new observations and collation of the literature. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) algorithm was used to predict the distribution of the species, which showed potential sites south of 10°N and elevations between 50 and 1000 m amsl. Xylophis captaini is listed as 'Least Concern' under IUCN criteria, and we suggest the possible elevation of its status to the 'Near-Threatened' category on account of its narrow distributional range and general lack of data on its ecology. The present study highlights the utility of niche models in assessing the distribution of cryptic and little known species in biodiversity-rich areas such as the Western Ghats.

Snake that remained hidden for 145 years found

Snake that remained hidden for 145 years found

A study on The flower and snake of Kim Mal - bong

A study on The flower and snake of Kim Mal - bong

Antibiotics use following snake bite in a tertiary care hospital

Antibiotics use following snake bite in a tertiary care hospital

A Snake in the Hand is Worth 10,000 in the Bush

A Snake in the Hand is Worth 10,000 in the Bush

Investigation and analysis of the influencing factors about nurses′ professional image impacted on nurse-patient relationship

Objective To investigate and analyze the patients′ needs of nurses′ professional image, in order to promote the harmonious development of nurse-patient relationship. Methods We selected 500 patients by convenient sampling method who were hospitalized in Department of Respiratory Medicine more than 3 days from July 2010 to June 2012, and the patients were surveyed by the demands of nurse′s professional image questionnaire. Results A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed and 494 of them collected with effectively collective rate 98.8%. Among 494 patients, 70.45% of them did not accept nurses eating snakes during work; 60.12% of patients preferred to receive treatment from the same nurse; 77.51% of them believed the communication just required to understand the meaning when nurses provided services; 99.80% of them did not agree with nurse′s heavy makeup during working time; 74.29% of them accepted nurse wearing not too exaggerated accessories; 80.57% of them accepted treatment from nursing interns; 93.39% of them did not have conflicts with nurses; 45.35% of them believed nurse′s words with out any doubts; 54.05% of them asked for smile when nurses provided services. Conclusions The nurse′s professional image should be enhanced, and nurses should pay attention to building up a good professional image, so as to enhance the nurse′s integral professional image and reduce the nurse-patient conflicts and the social pressure of nursing staffs. Key words: Nurse; Professional image; Nurse-patient relationship; Service requirement

Nomi di serpente in Nicandro: driino/chelidro, idro e chersidro

The aim of this paper is to argue that the snake called dryinas should be identified only with another snake, the chelydrus, and not with the more famous hydrus, as is written in Ni-cander’s Theriaka v. 414. In fact this verse is an interpolation.

Species Richness of Montane Herpetofauna of Southern Eastern Ghats, India: A Historical Resume and a Descriptive Checklist

We examined the amphibian and squamate reptilian species richness of Southern Eastern Ghats based on a long term-field survey with nearly two years of field days. We surveyed high elevation slopes (>900 m a.s.l.) of four select hill ranges namely Jawadi, Shevaroys, Kolli, and Sirumalai hills which comprehensively represented full geographical and spatial coverage. We present a descriptive species-account with basic morphological data supported by voucher photographs. We summarize the history of herpetological explorations in this landscape and also comment on some of the major previous works in the region. Our study revealed the presence of 62 species in the montane zones, including 32 (51%) new records involving all the three target taxa (frogs, lizards and snakes) and all the four hill ranges that testify the poor knowledge on the region’s herpetofauna till date. Lastly, we remark on the unresolved taxonomic status of some species recorded in the present study. We recommend specimen-based revisionary works in the nearby Western Ghats, where such taxa are much more diverse, to enable taxonomic studies in this region.

Erythrism in the Smooth Snake, Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768), Recorded from Georgia

Color aberration are frequently known in snakes, however erythrism is one of the rarest. In this paper, we report the capture of one erythristic male of Coronella austriaca from Georgia and we also present actual knowledge about color aberration in this species.

Head bone tissue extraction algorithm based on CTA image

Vascular tissue and bone tissue cannot be clearly separated based solely on grayscale information in images of computed tomography angiography( CTA). The algorithm based on the growth of threedimensional( 3D) region improved bone tissue outside the bone contour extraction and the extraction algorithm based on improved Snake model combined with the characteristics of CTA grayscale images were proposed.Combining the knowledge of probability theory to improve the accuracy of determining condition of the region growing,fast skeletal regional seed extraction method of 3D region growing was proposed. It made it possible to obtain more accurate bone tissue area. After the Snake model was selected and some improvements were made to the model,energy image information items were increased,so that the model can better solve the current problems. Finally,the experimental results were given and compared with results from the traditional algorithm. It is confirmed the proposed segmentation of bone tissue extraction algorithm works well.

Retrospective Study of Profile of Medico-legal Cases in Tumkur Region, Karnataka

The casualty department plays a vital role in treating in emergencies as well as in handling of legal implications of the cases. Common medico-legal cases include alleged cases of assault, road traffic accidents, burns, poisoning, snake bite, insect bite, industrial accidents, alcoholic intoxications etc. In present study 173 medico-legal cases were reported to the casualty department of Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur during the period from 1 st January 2012 to 31 st August 2013. Study shows maximum number of cases was males (72.83%) as compared to females (27.16%). In present study majority of cases were from age group between 21-30 years (53 cases) followed by 31-40 years (35 cases). In our study majority of cases were due to road traffic accidents (72 cases), followed by assault (38 cases), mechanical injuries (21cases), poisoning (14 cases), fall from height (09 cases). These can be prevented by proper education, awareness, uniform enforcement of law and order strictly. Training of doctors who are involved in handling of medicolegal cases is needed.

Molecular Modelling Approaches for Designing Inhibitors of L-Amino Acid Oxidase from Crotalus adamanteus Venom

L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) from snake venom induces diverse toxicity into the victims, which is attributed to H 2 O 2 generated during the catalytic conversion of L-amino acids. In this study, homology model of LAAO from Crotalus adamanteus has been compared with the crystal structure of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma . The root mean square deviations obtained from superposition of the FADbinding, substrate-binding and helical domains of LAAO from Crotalus adamanteus with those of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma crystal structure confirmed a high degree of structural similarity between them. Based on the interactions of the substrate, L-phenylalanine and the reversible inhibitor, o -aminobenzoic acid with the catalytic residues of LAAO from Calloselasma rhodostoma , five probable inhibitors were designed. AutoDock Vina program was employed to perform automated molecular docking of these probable inhibitors. Two of them emerged as reversible inhibitors with IC 50 values of 1.6 and 3.3 μM respectively.

The Literary Imagination of the White Pagoda and Dynastic Change in Early Ming Hangzhou

This article examines the literary imaginations of the White Pagoda and demonstrates a shift in its representation from a metaphor for the Song court’s fate to a fantastic site for the subjugation of unworldly beings. In the late thirteenth century, the Yuan-appointed Tibetan Buddhist monk Yang Lianzhenjia exhumed the imperial mausoleums of the defeated Southern Song, built the White Pagoda on the site of the old Southern Song palace in Hangzhou, and interred the exhumed bones under it. Enthusiastic Song loyalists thus considered the White Pagoda to be a symbol of a humiliating past in which the Mongol Yuan dynasty occupied the south. Meanwhile, Qu You, an early-Ming writer from Hangzhou, began to imagine that the White Pagoda served to pacify the innocent, lonely dead who died during the Song-Yuan social disturbance. Investigating the discourse of the early Ming literati in regard to the pagoda site and the supernatural in early Ming Hangzhou leads to the conclusion that the literary imagination of the White Pagoda would have also contributed to the development of the White Snake Legend, where a white serpent spirit was subdued under Thunder Peak Pagoda in Hangzhou.

Evaluating the effectiveness of varying concentrations of permethrin on ticks of genus Aponoma on Royal Pythons ( Python Regius )

Quarantine programs in zoological gardens for reptiles including snakes can only be complete with acaricide treatment due to heavy infestation of ticks especially Aponoma species. The ticks can pose health threats to snakes including death few days to weeks after tick bite. The toxic effects of most available acaricides are grievous as snakes find it difficult to metabolize those drugs readily. The present study therefore focused on identifying these tick vectors and employing a modified method of acaricidal application on Python regius in order to reduce toxicity and health risks due to the acaricidal effect. The study was carried out in Royal python ( Python regius ) located at University of Ilorin Zoo, Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of ten Royal pythons were selected for the study. The snakes were randomly allocated to four groups (A, B, C and D), each group containing three snakes (A,B,C) and the last snake used as control(D). Off-shelf permethrin acaricide was diluted to three different concentrations and applied to the snake followed by a wiping-off mechanism at the concentration of 0.1%, 0.05% and 0.025% for treatment of groups A, B and C, respectively. The concentration of 1mg/ml (0.1%) produced the best result in terms of efficacy (using Abbott formula), tolerance and repeatability. The result obtained at 0.25 mg/ml (0.025%) concentration did not produce a desired effect with an efficacy of 85% compared with 100% obtained in 1mg/ml group, after treatment. This study therefore establishes that 1mg/ml (0.1%) permethrin produced the best result in terms of efficacy, tolerance and repeatability and can also be applicable in other snake species adhering to the protocols used in this study. Keywords: acaricides, permethrin, royal python, Aponoma , zoo, Nigeria

MOLECULAR MODEL OF CYTOTOXIN-1 FROM NAJA MOSSAMBICA MOSSAMBICA VENOM IN COMPLEX WITH CHYMOTRYPSIN.

Snake venom is a myriad of biologically active proteins and peptides. Three finger toxins are highly conserved in their molecular structure, but interestingly possess diverse biological functions. During the course of evolution the introduction of subtle mutations in loop regions and slight variations in the three dimensional structure, has resulted in their functional versatility. Cytotoxin-1 (UniProt ID: P01467), isolated from Naja mossambica mossambica, showed the potential to inhibit chymotrypsin and the chymotryptic activity of the 20S proteasome. In the present work we describe a molecular model of cytotoxin-1 in complex with chymotrypsin, prepared by the online server ClusPro. Analysis of the molecular model shows that Cytotoxin-1 (P01467) binds to chymotrypsin through its loop I located near the N-terminus. The concave side of loop I of the toxin fits well in the substrate binding pocket of the protease. We propose Phe10 as the dedicated P1 site of the ligand. Being a potent inhibitor of the 20S proteasome, cytotoxin-1 (P01467) can serve as a potential antitumor agent. Already snake venom cytotoxins have been investigated for their ability as an anticancer agent. The molecular model of cytotoxin-1 in complex with chymotrypsin provides important information towards understanding the complex formation.