Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting. Unlike poison, which is ingested or inhaled into the victim’s tract, administration of venom is usually directed into the lymphatic system itself for faster action.
- Venomous animals produce venom in a highly developed secretary gland or group of cells and deliver the toxin (venom) during a stinging or biting act.
- Most of the zootoxins are composed of proteins (both low and high molecular weight). They may be amines, lipids, steroids, aminopolysaccharides, quinines, 5HT, glycosides etc.
- Toxicity from zootoxins depends on:
- Species of the venomous animal
- Route of entry
- Location/site
- Quantity of venom injected
- Absorption from the site
- Distribution
- Accumulation
- Biotransformation
- Excretion and
- Species of animals affected
- In general the zoo toxins either affect the nervous system or the cardiovascular system. The venom components selectively target important sites of the nervous system in either agonistic or antagonistic manners. Interference with the fundamental communication of the body is a very effective manner of causing envenomation. Neurotoxins are found in a wide variety of animals, covering a great diversity from arachnids to amphibians to mollusks to snakes. Toxins acting on the cardiovascular system affect the hemostasis.
- Hemostasis is a balance of two opposing forces: clot formation and dissolution. Venoms often have profound effects upon blood coagulation, acting directly upon important clotting factors either by inappropriate activation or through prevention of activation. The same net effect (i.e. inability to stop bleeding) may be produced by dramatically different mechanisms allowing for the selective use of venom or venom components to address a specific deficiency in blood chemistry. As blood coagulation therapies or diagnostic tools, the most important snake venom components have been homeostatic or antithrombotic agents.
IMPORTANT TOXINS & POISONS AFFECTING ANIMALS & HUMANS & THEIR ANTIDOTAL THERAPY
IMPORTANT TOXINS & POISONS AFFECTING ANIMALS & HUMANS & THEIR ANTIDOTAL THERAPY
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