Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting
The Philippines has a high diversity of venomous snake species, but there is minimal information on their envenomation effects. This is evidenced by the small number of case reports, the poor reporting of envenomation cases, and the absence of specific antivenoms apart from one against the Philippin...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Daniel Albert E. Castillo Lorenzo Seneci Abhinandan Chowdhury Marilyn G. Rimando Bryan G. Fry |
| author_facet | Daniel Albert E. Castillo Lorenzo Seneci Abhinandan Chowdhury Marilyn G. Rimando Bryan G. Fry |
| author_sort | Daniel Albert E. Castillo |
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| description | The Philippines has a high diversity of venomous snake species, but there is minimal information on their envenomation effects. This is evidenced by the small number of case reports, the poor reporting of envenomation cases, and the absence of specific antivenoms apart from one against the Philippine cobra (<i>Naja philippinensis</i>). This study sought to profile the action of selected Philippine pit viper venoms on blood coagulation and to investigate whether commercially available non-specific antivenoms can provide adequate protection against these venoms. Venom from the pit vipers <i>Trimeresurus flavomaculatus</i> and <i>Trimeresurus mcgregori</i> were subjected to coagulation assays, antivenom cross-neutralization tests, and thromboelastography. Venoms from both species were able to clot human plasma and isolated human fibrinogen. Consistent with pseudo-procoagulant/thrombin-like activity, the resulting fibrin clots were weak and transient, thereby contributing to net anticoagulation through the depletion of fibrinogen levels. Clotting factors fIXa and fXa were also inhibited by the venoms, further contributing to the net anticoagulant activity. Monovalent and polyvalent antivenoms from the Thai Red Cross Society were effective against both venoms, indicating cross-neutralization of venom toxins; the polyvalent antivenom was able to rescue fibrinogen clotting to a greater degree than the monovalent antivenom. Our findings highlight the coagulopathic effects of these pit viper venoms and suggest the utility of procuring the non-specific antivenoms for areas in the Philippines with a high risk for pit viper envenomation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a5669ebc85e64116aa33decccdcfe80e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-a5669ebc85e64116aa33decccdcfe80e2025-08-20T03:13:48ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-04-0117418510.3390/toxins17040185Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood ClottingDaniel Albert E. Castillo0Lorenzo Seneci1Abhinandan Chowdhury2Marilyn G. Rimando3Bryan G. Fry4The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila 1008, PhilippinesAdaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, AustraliaAdaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, AustraliaThe Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila 1008, PhilippinesAdaptive Biotoxicology Lab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, AustraliaThe Philippines has a high diversity of venomous snake species, but there is minimal information on their envenomation effects. This is evidenced by the small number of case reports, the poor reporting of envenomation cases, and the absence of specific antivenoms apart from one against the Philippine cobra (<i>Naja philippinensis</i>). This study sought to profile the action of selected Philippine pit viper venoms on blood coagulation and to investigate whether commercially available non-specific antivenoms can provide adequate protection against these venoms. Venom from the pit vipers <i>Trimeresurus flavomaculatus</i> and <i>Trimeresurus mcgregori</i> were subjected to coagulation assays, antivenom cross-neutralization tests, and thromboelastography. Venoms from both species were able to clot human plasma and isolated human fibrinogen. Consistent with pseudo-procoagulant/thrombin-like activity, the resulting fibrin clots were weak and transient, thereby contributing to net anticoagulation through the depletion of fibrinogen levels. Clotting factors fIXa and fXa were also inhibited by the venoms, further contributing to the net anticoagulant activity. Monovalent and polyvalent antivenoms from the Thai Red Cross Society were effective against both venoms, indicating cross-neutralization of venom toxins; the polyvalent antivenom was able to rescue fibrinogen clotting to a greater degree than the monovalent antivenom. Our findings highlight the coagulopathic effects of these pit viper venoms and suggest the utility of procuring the non-specific antivenoms for areas in the Philippines with a high risk for pit viper envenomation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/4/185<i>Trimeresurus</i>coagulotoxicityantivenompseudo-procoagulantfibrinogen |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Albert E. Castillo Lorenzo Seneci Abhinandan Chowdhury Marilyn G. Rimando Bryan G. Fry Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting Toxins <i>Trimeresurus</i> coagulotoxicity antivenom pseudo-procoagulant fibrinogen |
| title | Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting |
| title_full | Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting |
| title_fullStr | Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting |
| title_short | Bite First, Bleed Later: How Philippine <i>Trimeresurus</i> Pit Viper Venoms Hijack Blood Clotting |
| title_sort | bite first bleed later how philippine i trimeresurus i pit viper venoms hijack blood clotting |
| topic | <i>Trimeresurus</i> coagulotoxicity antivenom pseudo-procoagulant fibrinogen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/4/185 |
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