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Antivenom

22-01-2025

06:30 AM

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1 min read
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Overview:

A terrible number, estimated 58000 snakebite cases, renders India the ‘snakebite capital’ of the world and in this regard antivenoms play a crucial role.

About Antivenom: 

  • Antivenoms, or antivenins, are life-saving medicines used to treat snake bites.
  • Antivenoms are the frontline defence. They work by specifically binding to the venom toxins to render them ineffective, allowing the body’s natural defence systems to clear them safely over time.
  • How lethal is Snake venom?
    • Snake venom is one of nature’s most lethal weapons, a complex cocktail of toxic proteins.
    • Haemotoxins destroy blood cells and disrupt clotting. Neurotoxins block nerve signals and paralyse. Cytotoxinsdissolve tissue at the bite site. The effects are often fatal without medical intervention.
  • Productions of Antivenoms
    • French physician Albert Calmette in the 1890s developed the first antivenom using horses, a practice that continues today.
    • To produce antivenom, healthy and mature venomous snakes are first captured from the wild by trained experts who then “milk” the snakes to extract the venom.
    • Next, they immunise horses with increasing doses of venom over many weeks, allowing their immune systems to produce antibodies. 
    • Over time, the horses develop a robust immune response, producing antibodies that neutralise venom toxins.
    • They are produced by injecting small amounts of venom into animals, usually horses, which then produce antibodies as part of their immune response. These antibodies become antivenoms.
    • The experts extract these antibodies from the horse’s blood and purify and formulate them as antivenoms.
    • The antibodies thus produced are very specific to the type of toxins injected.
  • Polyvalent antivenoms (PVAs) currently used in India target multiple species. However, their efficacy varies against less common snakes.
  • Issues with Antivenoms in India
    • India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of antivenoms in the world.
    • However, access to timely medical care remains a significant challenge for many Indians.
    • Administration issue: Improper administration and inadequate facilities exacerbate the crisis. Logistical issues, unequal access to care, superstitious beliefs, and cultural practices often delay proper treatment in many parts.
    • Lack of Infrastructure: Antivenoms often need to be transported in cold storage, however, India’s rural parts lack the supporting infrastructure and power supply.
    • The high cost of manufacturing antivenom limits accessibility for the economically-disadvantaged.

Q1: What are the three types of snake poison?

There are three types of venom according to its effect viz. Haemotoxic, Cytotoxic & Neurotoxic. Haemo-toxic venoms are ones which affect the cardiovascular system, Cytotoxic venoms target specific cellular sites and Neuro-toxic venoms harm the nervous system of the human body.

Source: TH