Venoms of South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Genus: Hypnale) cause muscarinic effects in BALB/c mice

Abstract

Although clinical, in-vivo and in-vitro studies suggest the necrotic, haemorrhagic, pro-coagulant and nephrotoxic effects of South Asian Hump nosed pit vipers, reports on neurotoxic properties are limited to a single in-vitro study. Using BALB/c mice, for the first time, here we demonstrate the signs of envenoming suggestive of possible muscarinic effects of the venoms of all three Hypnale species. Further, we demonstrate that the muscarinic effects are occurred at lower venom doses by H. hypnale venom, compared to H. nepa and H. zara.

Keywords

• Hump-nosed vipers
• Venom
• Mouse
• Cholinergic