THE TOXINOLOGY OF CALLOSELASMA-RHODOSTOMA (MALAYAN PIT VIPER) VENOM

Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan pit viper) is the commonest cause of snake bite in Malaysia and Thailand. It exhibits very strong thrombin- like enzyme and moderate hemorrhagic activities. The biological consti tuents of the venom that have been well characterized include thrombin -like enzyme, hemorrhagin, platelet aggregation inducer, disintegrin, antiplatelet protease, alpha-fibrinogenase and L-amino acid oxidase. T he venom can cause local effects such as local swelling, hemorrhage an d necrosis as well as systemic bleeding and shock. Systemic bleeding i s mainly the result of the hemostatic failure due to the combine effec ts of thrombocytopenia and defribination syndrome, Specific antivenom is highly effective in treatment of systemic C.rhodostoma venom poison ing.