Citation

Barton DJ, Shao S, Marino RT, Reichmeider A, Yanta JH, Pizon AF. Toxicon 2019; 159: 38-40.

Affiliation

Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Iroquois Building Suite 400, 3600 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: pizonaf@upmc.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.01.001

PMID

30660557

Abstract

The South African coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus, Elapidae) has not previously been reported to cause any neurotoxic envenomations in humans. We recently treated a 44-year-old man who was bitten twice, once in each hand, by a captive South African coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus) while feeding the female snake who had recently laid eggs. Approximately one hour after receiving the bite, he developed vomiting, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and paralysis of the bulbar and upper extremity muscles, with retention of voluntary motor control in the lower extremities. Supportive care was provided, and paralysis and respiratory failure resolved spontaneously 12 hours after onset. No antivenom for this species is available. To our knowledge, this is the first published case report of significant human envenomation by Aspidelaps lubricus. Physicians, first responders, and herpetologists should be aware of the potential for neurotoxicity in humans.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Aspidelaps lubricus; South African coral snake; envenomation; neurotoxicity; snakebite