Some biochemical properties of Russell's viper (Daboia russelli) venom from Eastern India: correlation with clinico-pathological manifestation in Russell's viper bite.

In the present study, some biochemical properties and pathological effects of Daboia russelli venom from Burdwan district of West Bengal, eastern India are presented. The clinical features of Russell's viper envenomation observed in patients admitted to Burdwan Medical College & Hospital are also reported. In vitro, whole venom exerts strong trypsin inhibitory, phospholipase A2 and procoagulant activities in addition to moderate adenosine monophosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase activities. Lethality (LD50) of this venom sample is 0.7 mg kg (i.v.) of mice. Significant local tissue damaging effects including edema, hemorrhage and necrosis are observed in experimental animal models. An increase in the level of serum enzymes, such as aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase after D. russelli venom injection in albino rats is indicative of cell or tissue damage. High incidence of intravascular hemolysis in addition to hemostasis, haemoptysis and haematuria are observed as the most prominent features of RVV envenomation from this part of India. The present study reinforces the hypothesis that variation in the venom composition of RVV from eastern India with respect to venom samples of Russell's vipers from other parts of India is responsible for the differences in the clinical manifestation in patients from eastern India.