animals venoms and poisons

Question 1

toxicology vs toxinology

Answer 1

toxicology - effects of chemicals on living system

toxinology - animal, plant, and microbial toxin properties

Question 2

poisonous vs venomous animals

Answer 2

poisonous - part or entirety of animal is toxic without mechanism or structure for delivery
venomous - production of poison in glands and delivered through mechanism like biting or stinging

Question 3

what makes up a venom?

Answer 3

cocktail of molecules that work together to produce toxicity

Question 4

what molecules can venom contain?

Answer 4

proteins
histamine
phospholipases
free amino acids
steroids
amines
lipids

Question 5

what is the challenge in venom analysis?

Answer 5

its hard to take venom apart and study individual components because it can destroy quality of venom since components work together

Question 6

what does bioavailability look for?

Answer 6

substance that gets absorbed well to enter/cross membranes

Question 7

what is bioavailability determined by?

Answer 7

molecular size
solubility
rate of blood flow

Question 8

how is venom absorbed in individuals?

Answer 8

injection and intravenous injection
active transport
facilitated diffusion
pinocytosis

Question 9

what does venom do?

Answer 9

destroys tissue

receptor mediated toxicity

Question 10

why can venom excretion be complicated?

Answer 10

because the venom can act on the kidneys

Question 11

venom and poison are both

Answer 11

toxins

Question 12

Scorpions
hallmarks?
mechanism of action?
symptoms?

Answer 12

hallmark - low molecular weight proteins are fairly bioavailable
mechanism- neurotoxin blocks channels to impair depolarization of action potential in nerve or muscle
symptoms:
swelling
tachycardia and hypertension
fever and muscle fasciculation (twitch) in adults
motor weakness and respiratory paralysis in children
symptoms resolve in 12-36 hours

Question 13

Are venoms and poisons always fatal?

Answer 13

No

some people are hypersensitive than others

Question 14

lactrodectus (widow spiders)
hallmarks?
mechanism?
symptoms?

Answer 14

hallmarks - venom affects neurotransmitter release because contains lactrotoxins
mechanism - latrotoxin depolarizes neurons by increasing [Ca2+]. stimulates exocytosis of neurotransmitter at nerve terminals
symptoms:
muscle cramping
muscle fasciculations (twitch)
rarely fatal
numbing pain

Question 15

Loxosceles (brown recluse) called fiddle back spider
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 15

hallmarks - venom has phospholipase anything -ase to break down tissue (think necrosis)
mechanism - breaks down tissue with enzymes
symptoms - 
burning
serious bit causes necrosis
rarely fatal
fever
nausea
hematuria

Question 16

Ticks
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 16

hallmarks - saliva toxic, circular skin rash at bite
mechanism - borrelia toxin prevents release of acetylcholine
symptoms
fever
headache
fatigue
circular skin rash
can spread to joints, lymph nodes, heart, nervous system
can be treated early with antibiotics

Question 17

centipedes
hallmark
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 17

hallmark - venom has histamine, proteinases, esterase
mechanism - venom has histamine, proteinases, first legs are poisonus jaws
symptoms
swelling and redness, necrosis is rare

Question 18

caterpillarshallmark
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 18

hallmark - urticating hair (setae)
mechanism - poison glands at base of each hair
symptom
itching
redness 
subsides

Question 19

ants
hallmark
mechanism
symptom

Answer 19

hallmark - venom has formic acid and alkaloids
mechanism - stings
symptom: burning, swelling, pustule, necrosis
respiratory difficulty and rarely death if 100 bites

Question 20

bees
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 20

hallmarks- venom has phospholipase A, histamine
mechanism - stinger
symptoms
some are allergic which causes anaphalyx
more than 100 stings is lethal
respiratory dysfunction, shock, renal failure

Question 21

amphibians (frogs)
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 21

hallmarks - batrachotoxin (most toxic). steroidal alkaloid
mechanism - sodium channel blocker by locking channel in open position results in constant release acetycholine
symptoms
muscle contract but do not relax
death from respiratory paralysis b/c to breath you need to contract and relax muscles

Question 22

reptile (gila monster)
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 22

hallmarks - venom has phospholipases and poroteolytic and hyaluronidase activities
mechanism - hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability and venom is drawn up by capillary action along grooves in teeth
symptoms (did not sayy)

Question 23

(Snakes) crotalids
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 23

hallmarks - rich in proteolytic activity and thrombin enzymes
mechanism -
symptoms
hypotension/shock and capillary permeability

Question 24

(snakes) viprid
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 24

hallmarks- moderate rich in proteolytic and thrombin enzymes
mechanism
symptoms
hypotension/shock and capillary permeability

Question 25

(snakes) Elapid
hallmarks
mechanism
symptoms

Answer 25

hallmarks - little or no proteolytic activity
mechanism -
symptoms
respiratory arrest from neurotoxic activity

Question 26

antivenom monovalent or polyvalent

Answer 26

monovalent - targets one species

polyvalent - targets many species

Question 27

how are antivenom made?

Answer 27

small nonlethal amount of venom injected into horse or sheep so they make antibodies. then we collect those antibodies and administer it as antivenom

Question 28

what are ALL venoms capable of?

Answer 28

anaphylaxis

Question 29

anaphylaxis vs anaphylactic shock

Answer 29

anaphylaxis is an acute systemic (rapid, multisystem) severe allergic rxn
anaphylactic shock - leads to death in minutes if untreated
can occur in antivenom if someone’s allergic

Question 30

toxicity depends on?

Answer 30

properties of toxin
delivery
bite site (route of administration)
health of patient