Venom extraction from anesthetized Florida cottonmouths, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti, using a portable nerve stimulator.

Florida cottonmouth snakes (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti) were anesthetized with the injectable anesthetic propofol, and venom expulsion was induced with a commercially available human nerve stimulator. We observed rapid anesthetic induction with strong correlation between animal mass and both propofol dose and induction time. We also found a positive correlation between venom yield and animal mass. The method we describe produced consistent venom extraction, maximized yield by completely emptying the glands, potentially reduced animal stress by reducing time of conscious physical restraint, and decreased the likelihood of human envenomation. This technique could also be used in remote field locations. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.