Cottonmouth snake

A study of twenty-two amino acid analogs using cottonmouth snake venom revealed that all were oxidized with the exception of two which had a tertiary a-carbon. A variety of j8-arylalanines was found to be oxidized at rates comparable to that of the corresponding naturally occurring amino acids, supporting the generalization of Zeller that the /3-group exerted relatively little influence on the substrate activity of different amino acids. 

Antivenins are used for passive, transient protection from the toxic effects of bites by spiders (black widow and similar spiders) and snakes (rattlesnakes, copperhead and cottonmouth, and coral). The most effective response is obtained when the drug is administered within 4 hours after exposure... 

Snake bite (pit vipers) Antivenin (Crotalidae) polyvalent, equine The entire dose should be given within 4 hours after the bite by the IV or IM route (1 vial = 10 mL) Minimal envenomation 2-4 vials Moderate envenomation 5-9 vials Severe envenomation 10-15 vials Additional doses may be required. Neutralizes the venom of rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, water moccasins, and tropical and Asiatic crotalids. Serum sickness occurs in almost all patients who receive > 7 vials. 

Cottonmouth Cottonmouth are partly aquatic, living in or near water and feeding mainly on fish and amphibians. These poisonous snakes are usually not aggressive unless agitated or threatened. When angered cotton-mouths will coil their bodies and expose a fully opened mouth as if ready to bite. The... 

Snakes are amongst the most feared of aU creatures simply because a handful of species are lethal to humans. It is perhaps a forhmate quirk of evolution that snakes strike fear into us, because this means that we leave them alone. On the other hand some harmless snakes, for example the Common Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) from north America, are killed because they look like dangerous species (in this case the dreaded Water Moccasin or Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus)). This is an unfortimate quirk of evolution, because the Brown Water Snake has evolved to mimic the dangerous Water Moccasin in the hope of frightening away potential predators. The outcome, however, as far as humans are concerned, is quite the opposite. 

Crotaline, a snake antivenin, is indicated in the treatment of crotalid (pit viper) bites, including those from rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth moccasins. 

Corn snake, Elaphe guttata, 445 Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, 435 Garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, 118,... 

Snake venoms cottonmouth moccasin cobra Naja sp.) Vipera sp. CroUtlut sp. Crolalm lerrificus (crystallized enzyme)... 

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