Venom variability and envenoming severity outcomes of the Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus (Mojave rattlesnake) from Southern Arizona

Daniel J. Massey, Juan J. Calvete, Elda E. Sánchez, Libia Sanz, Kelvin Richards, Ryan Curtis, Keith Boesen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Scopus citations

Abstract

Twenty-one Mojave rattlesnakes, Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus (C. s. scutulatus), were collected from Arizona and New Mexico U.S.A. Venom proteome of each specimen was analyzed using reverse-phase HPLC and SDS-PAGE. The toxicity of venoms was analyzed using lethal dose 50 (LD 50). Health severity outcomes between two Arizona counties U.S.A., Pima and Cochise, were determined by retrospective chart review of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center (APDIC) database between the years of 2002 and 2009. Six phenotypes (A-F) were identified based on three venom protein families; Mojave toxin, snake venom metalloproteinases PI and PIII (SVMP), and myotoxin-A. Venom changed geographically from SVMP-rich to Mojave toxin-rich phenotypes as you move from south central to southeastern Arizona. Phenotypes containing myotoxin-A were only found in the transitional zone between the SVMP and Mojave toxin phenotypes. Venom samples containing the largest amounts of SVMP or Mojave toxin had the highest and lowest LD 50s, respectively. There was a significant difference when comparing the presence of neurotoxic effects between Pima and Cochise counties (p=0.001). No significant difference was found when comparing severity (p=0.32), number of antivenom vials administered (p=0.17), days spent in a health care facility (p=0.23) or envenomation per 100,000 population (p=0.06). Although not part of the original data to be collected, death and intubations, were also noted. There is a 10× increased risk of death and a 50× increased risk of intubations if envenomated in Cochise County.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2576-2587
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Proteomics
Volume75
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 17 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Crotalus scutulatus
  • Geographic venom variability
  • Mojave rattlesnake
  • Snake envenoming
  • Snake venom
  • Venomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

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