Citation

Tilbury CR, Verster J. Toxicon 2016; 118: 21-26.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.04.035

PMID

27090012

Abstract

Bites from the various species of Atractaspis are a common occurrence in Africa but deaths are very unusual. Of the 19 described species, the clinical effects of the bite of only seven have been described, and in only three (A. irregularis, A. microlepidota and A. engaddensis) have fatalities been documented. A case of envenomation is described following a bite to a finger by A. corpulenta, which resulted in sudden death approximately two and a half hours later. The victim received antivenom and although anaphylaxis to this cannot be ruled out, we consider it to be unlikely to be the cause of death. A late autopsy was performed and the findings and their interpretation are discussed. The previous case fatalities, toxic fractions and clinical effects of Atractaspis venom are briefly reviewed.

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en