New DNA tests that can determine what type of snake has bitten a patient could save lives.
The researchers demonstrated that DNA samples taken directly from the fang marks inflicted on bite victims could identify what type of snake caused them every time, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene said in an emailed press release.
"These findings represent a significant step toward improving care for patients in areas of the world where snakebites constitute a massive but neglected health risk," said study director Dr. Francois Chappuis, chief of the division of tropical and humanitarian medicine at Geneva University Hospitals in Switzerland.
The researchers looked at snakebites in rural Nepal, and found snake DNA could be acquired from about one in every four bites.
"Snakebite is an important medical emergency in rural Nepal. Correct identification of the biting species is crucial for clinicians to choose appropriate treatment and anticipate complications. This is particularly important for neurotoxic envenomation which, depending on the responsible species, may not respond to antivenoms," the researchers stated in their study abstract.
It has been estimated that out of the several million people who are bitten by venomous snakes every year, thousands die or are permanently disabled. Many people in South Asia never seek treatment at a medical facility. The snake is usually killed and disposed of, making identification impossible and homeopathic treatments can clear out the DNA from the bite wound. There is also a disparity in snake bite outcomes when urban locations (which have more healthcare workers) are compared with rural ones.
"That's where the recently developed DNA test could be most valuable. Knowing the distribution of snakes and the number of snakebites within a region could help improve allocation of scarce antivenoms to areas where they are most needed," Chappuis said.
The findings were presented Nov. 4 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans.
