Sd. Nishioka et al., Occupational injuries with captive lance-headed vipers (Bothrops moojeni):experience from a snake farm in Brazil, TR MED I H, 5(7), 2000, pp. 507-509
We studied occupational injuries with captive lance-headed vipers (Bothrops
moojeni) that occurred in a snake farm in south-eastern Brazil from Februa
ry 1981 to May 1999. The risk of injury, taking into account 13 cases of sn
ake-associated injuries (12 of them snake bites) was 2.73 per 10 000 person
-days of work, and 3.51 per 100 000 venom extractions. Thirteen cases of in
jury occurred in seven workers, whereas 18 workers were never injured, sugg
esting chat some individuals have a higher risk of injury than others perha
ps due to lack of concentration or overconfidence. Eight episodes of occupa
tional injuries occurring in four technicians, including a case of eye inju
ry due to splashed venom during extraction, are reported. Assessment of whe
ther envenoming occurred was facilitated by knowledge of the snake species
and size, history of recent venom extraction and snake feeding, and examina
tion of snake venom glands. Hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylaxis and ser
um sickness) to antivenom are a risk particularly to those workers who were
bitten more than once and medicated previously. Antivenom therefore should
not be administered to these individuals unless there is dear evidence tha
t envenoming occurred or is likely to have occurred. Hypersensitivity to th
e venom is also a health concern for workers from snake farms.