Snake Venom

September 15, 2009

PROPOFOL HIT HOLLYWOOD HEADLINES IN THE MICHAEL JACKSON CASE AND NOW IT’S MAKING NEWS IN THE REPTILE WORLD. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO COLLECT SNAKE VENOM, THEY INJECT THE ANESTHETIC AND ADMINISTER NERVE STIMULATION.

Dr. Darryl Heard/UF veterinary medicine researcher: “It produces a low voltage or amperage so it doesn’t hurt the animal, but by placing electrodes over the venom gland, we’re able to eject the venom from an anesthetized snake.”

RESEARCHERS CONSIDER THE TECHNIQUE SAFER FOR THE HANDLER AND LESS STRESSFUL ON THE SNAKE. IT ALSO DRAWS MORE VENOM THAN TRADITIONAL EXTRACTION METHODS. SCIENTISTS MADE ANOTHER DISCOVERY WORKING WITH SNAKES LIVING ON AN ISOLATED ISLAND. A DECREASE OF FOOD FORCED THE SNAKES TO ADAPT AND CUT THE TOXICITY OF THEIR VENOM.

Dr. Darryl Heard/UF veterinary medicine researcher: “They scavenger. They eat fish dropped from the bird rookery versus the mainland species have to actually capture their prey with venom.”

EXPERTS SAY THE FINDINGS SHOULD PROVE USEFUL IN BOTH VETERINARY AND HUMAN MEDICINE, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFECTIVE ANTI-VENOMS.