Toxins and Venoms

Question 1

learning objective - differentiate between poisons and venoms

Answer 1

Venoms are toxins actively injected into the victim (used for hunting and defense)
Poisons are passively secreted as a defense mechanism.

Question 2

What can some fire ants spray?

Answer 2

formic acid

Question 3

Bee venom is 50% ______, which causes pain and histamine release, and 12% _______ which destroys membranes.

Answer 3

Mellitin

Phospholipase A2

Question 4

Wasps and hornets contain _______, also ________ that alert the swarm to an intruder, _____ however are the primary pain-inducing substances.

Answer 4

neurotoxins
alarm pheromones
kinins

Question 5

______ in ant venom causes dermal necrosis and ______ causes pain.

Answer 5

piperidine

formic acid

Question 6

What is the most common cause of death during bee/wasp/hornet sting?

Answer 6

anaphylaxis (especially dogs)

Question 7

learning objective - diagnose and treat common bug bites and bee stings.

Answer 7

Diagnosis: swollen, red plaques at site of sting, edema can be substantial, anaphylaxis, systemic toxicity caused by delayed hypersensitivity is relatively uncommon.
Treatment: Removal of stinger by scraping, cold compress for swelling, antihistimines and steroids, monitor for anaphylaxis

Question 8

learning objective - recognize animals that produce venoms and relative harm to animals

Answer 8

• bees, wasps, hornets
• Bufo Toads
• Black Widow, Brown Recluse
• Eastern Coral Snake, Pit vipers

Question 9

• What is produced in the salivary glands of Dermacentor(dogwood) and Ixode (deer) Ticks?
• What does it cause?
• Specific clinical sign?

Answer 9

• Holocyclotoxin
• impaired Ach release -> weakness, paralysis
• loss of voice

Question 10

Treatment for tick?

Answer 10

atropine sulfate, anti-emetics, supportive care

Question 11

Bufo toads secrete toxins as well as their eggs and tadpoles being toxic. Which commonly lethal species to worry about is found in florida?

Answer 11

B. marinus

Question 12

Bufo toad secretions include _______ which cause vasoconstriction, hallucination and ____ which inhibit Na/K ATPase and cause cardiac arrhythmia?

Answer 12

biogenic amines (histamine)
bufogenins (bufotalin)

Question 13

Diagnose Bufo toads when there is immediate hypersalivation, headshaking, hyperemic gums, ______, neurologic signs such as ________, and what electrolyte abnormality?

Answer 13

arrhythmias
convulsions, ataxia, hallucination
sever hyperkalemia

Question 14

For treating bufo toads:
Perform a gastric lavage if animals have ______, activated charcoal if no seizures, ______ for seizures, ______ for arrthymias.

Answer 14

immediate lavage if eaten toad
diazepam/barbituates
propranolol/lidocaine or esmolol

Question 15

Black widow venom contains?

Answer 15

alpha-Iatrotoxin

Question 16

Cats are most sensitive to black widow venom and often eat spiders. Clinical signs include _______, weight loss, rigid abdomen, restlessness, vocalization, hypertension, tachycardia

Answer 16

muscle cramping and spasms

Question 17

Give ________ for muscle spasms due to black widow venom. However _____ is the only proven treatment, only use ______.

Answer 17

Calcium Gluconate

anti-venom - 100% confirmed it was a Black Widow, very expensive, may need multiple injections

Question 18

Brown recluse venom contain the necrotising enzyme?

Answer 18

sphingomyelinase D, cleaves head off lipids, loss of membrane fluidity

Question 19

‘bulls eye’ non healing ulcer is indicative of

Answer 19

brown recluse bite

Question 20

Most important thing for snake bites

Answer 20

monitor for respiratory paralysis

Question 21

Which snake has bungarotoxin neurotoxin which causes local tissue necrosis?

Answer 21

eastern coral snake

Question 22

What snake is responsible for the majority of animal snake bites?
Which causes most deaths?

Answer 22

copperhead

rattlesnake

Question 23

cats often ___ after being bitten by a snake vs. dogs will ____

Answer 23

hide

seek human companionship

Question 24

What don’t you do to treat a snake bite?

Answer 24

cut, Ice, or tourniquet, will keep toxin local