Platelet Response To Elapid Snake Venoms and Venom Stability Study

The impact of snakebite in Australia is significant,§with an estimated §1-3000 bites and 2-4 deaths annually. However, to§date, data on §the comparative sensitivity of different paediatric§populations to the §effects of snake venom have been lacking. Only§limited information §has been available about the effects of snake venoms§on the §different components of the haemostatic system.§The role of platelets in the hemostatic system has§previously been §under-estimated, as there was a major focus on the§Extrinsic and §Intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, with§platelets coming §into account at the end of the waterfall-like§cascade. However, this §model has progressed to a cell-based model, with§platelets playing §a central role. Hemotoxins found in the venoms of§Australian snakes §mimic human blood coagulation factors, such as the§Factor Xa/Va §complex found in Oxyuranus scutellatus and Pseudonaja§textilis or §Factor Xa found in Notechis scutatus. During this§project the §detailed activities of Australian snake venoms in§platelets, the §possible differential response in adults and§children, as well as §venom stability following long-term storage were§studied.