Trimeresurus popeiorum ( Pope's Pit Viper )
Original photo copyright © Dr Anita Malhotra
Family: Viperidae
Subfamily: Crotalinae
Genus: Trimeresurus
Species: popeiorum
Common Names: Pope's Pit Viper , Pope's Green Pit
Viper , Pope's Tree Viper , Red-tailed Pit Viper, Pope's Bamboo Pit Viper
Local Names: Ular Kapak Ekor Merah , Ular Engkerudu
Daun
Region: Indian Sub-continent + Southeast Asia
Countries: Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam
Trimeresurus popeiorum ( Pope's Pit Viper ) Original photo copyright © Dr Julian White
Taxonomy and Biology
Adult Length: 0.40 m
General Shape: Small in length, moderately slender (
males ) to moderately stout ( females ), cylindrical bodied pitviper with a
medium ( males ) to moderately short ( females ) prehensile tail. Can grow to a
maximum of about 0.93 metres. Head is moderately large, longer than broad,
triangular shaped and distinct from neck. Snout is rounded when viewed from
above and obliquely truncate when viewed from the side. Eyes are moderately
large in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Dorsal scales are strongly
keeled in males and weakly keeled in females. Dorsal scale count 21 to 23 ( 25
) - 21 ( 23 ) - 15 ( 17 ).
Habitat: Tropical montane primary and secondary forest
regions at elevations up to about 1500 metres.
Habits: Mainly nocturnal and semi-arboreal. Often
seen climbing in low bushes near forest streams.
Prey: Feeds mainly on rodents, small birds, lizards
and frogs.
Venom
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General: Venom Neurotoxins
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Probably not present
|
|
General: Venom Myotoxins
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Procoagulants
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Anticoagulants
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Haemorrhagins
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Nephrotoxins
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Cardiotoxins
|
Probably not present
|
|
General: Venom Necrotoxins
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Unknown
|
|
General: Venom Other
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Unknown
|
Clinical Effects
|
General: Dangerousness
|
Unknown
|
|
General: Rate of Envenoming
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Unknown
|
|
General: Untreated Lethality Rate
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Unknown
|
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General: Local Effects
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Insufficient clinical reports to know
|
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General: Local Necrosis
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Insufficient clinical reports to know
|
|
General: General Systemic Effects
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Insufficient clinical reports to know
|
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General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
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Unlikely to occur
|
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General: Myotoxicity
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Not likely to occur
|
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
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No reports of coagulopathy, though related species can
cause bleeding problems
|
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General: Renal Damage
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Insufficient clinical reports to know
|
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General: Cardiotoxicity
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Unlikely to occur
|
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General: Other
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Insufficient clinical reports to know
|
First Aid
Description:
First aid
for bites by Viperid snakes likely to cause significant local injury at the
bite site.
Details
1. After
ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes
by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down
and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this
mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for
reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming,
the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid
bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical
treatment.
2. The
bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp
cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the
wound must not be massaged.
3. All
rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be
removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops.
4. The
bitten limb should be immobilised as effectively as possible using an
extemporised splint or sling; if available, crepe bandaging of the splinted
limb is an effective form of immobilisation.
5. If
there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration,
airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In
particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory
paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and
prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth)
technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention.
6. Do not
use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric
shock.
7. Avoid
peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there
will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several
hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration.
8. If the
offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for
identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally
occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head,
as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake
into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites.
9. The
snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible
to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person
(health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be
exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If
no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a
stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's
back.
10. Most
traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are
useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision,
excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined
incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or
instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic
soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of
traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant
products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on.
Treatment
Treatment Summary: Bites by this species
are not recorded, but might cause moderate, possibly major local & systemic
effects, including coagulopathy/bleeding. Urgently assess & admit all
cases. Antivenom therapy is probably the key treatment, especially for coagulopathy.
Key Diagnostic Features: Local pain, swelling,
blistering, necrosis + coagulopathy, bleeding
General Approach to Management: All cases should be
treated as urgent & potentially lethal. Rapid assessment & commencement
of treatment including appropriate antivenom (if indicated & available) is
mandatory. Admit all cases.
Antivenom Therapy: Antivenom is the key
treatment for systemic envenoming. Multiple doses may be required.
Antivenoms
1.
Antivenom Code: SAsCRI01
Antivenom
Name: Polyvalent Anti Snake Venom Serum
Manufacturer:
Central Research Institute
Phone:
++91-1-792-72114
Address:
Kasauli (H.P.) 173204
Country:
India
2.
Antivenom Code: SAsTRC01
Antivenom
Name: Green Pit Viper Antivenin
Manufacturer:
Science Division, Thai Red Cross Society
Phone:
++66-2-252-0161 (up to 0164)
Address:
Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
1871 Rama
IV Road
Pathumwan
Bangkok
10330
Country:
Thailand
3.
Antivenom Code: SAsSII01
Antivenom
Name: SII Polyvalent Antisnake Venom Serum ( lyophilized )
Manufacturer:
Serum Institute of India Ltd.
Phone:
+91-20-26993900
Address:
212/2, Hadapsar,
Off Soli
Poonawalla Road,
Pune-411042.
India
Country:
India
4.
Antivenom Code: SAsSII02
Antivenom
Name: SII Bivalent Antisnake Venom Serum ( lyophilized )
Manufacturer:
Serum Institute of India Ltd.
Phone:
+91-20-26993900
Address:
212/2, Hadapsar,
Off Soli
Poonawalla Road,
Pune-411042.
India
Country:
India
