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A. nitschei envenomation
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by MICHAEL on August 28, 2000
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I hope Micah's account of this Atheris envenomation will alert all Atheris keepers to the potential dangers of bites from these vipers. I encounter far too many people who are under the mistaken impression that these snakes are fairly innocuous. The published literature adds to this misconception with many reports referring to their "mild venom". Please visit my World of Atheris site (www.kingsnake.com/atheris) and read the account of a bite from Proatheris superciliaris. This envenomation nearly killed its victim. Atheris squamigera has caused human fatality. There is no specific antivenom for these snakes and any bite should be considered an emergency. Bites often cause severe blood clotting abnormalities and hemolysis. Yes, there have been bites with only minor complications, but this should not cause a lack of respect for the potential danger of any venomous serpent. Heed Micah's warning. Be careful and respect all venomous snakes and never underestimate the toxicity of Atheris species.
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Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by TOXMEDIC on November 6, 2000
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Im the program mamnager for the Florida Antivenin Bank and I dont know what state you were in when you suffered your unfortunite event but in the future if you were to get bit contact us and we will supply you with Echis antivenin which has been shown to neutrilize Atheris bites as well as put you in touch with experts on that subject. We have 12 different antivenins available with 1 phone call EMERGENCIES ONLY
(305) 596-8576
Al Cruz
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RE: A. nitschei envenomation
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by markmc on February 5, 2003
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I'm interested in contacting Michael (who runs The World of Atheris website) ... any ideas? The e-mail contact on the website doesn't work
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Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by rihnoruss on April 30, 2004
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I must say that this is the first artical i've read on this site so far that was a ligitimate accident and not just a stupid mistake. this sort of accident can happen to any of us that don't take the proper precaucions .the only thing i can see that he did wrong was that he didn't have anyone else helping him . just the same as handling a 20 ft. python , you can't do it by yourself , no matter how much confidence you have in your abbilities !!!! don't take the chance!!! you only have one shot at life , and we are all lucky enough to have found our passion , don't let your passion consume you !!! be safe , and if you can't uphold the highest standerds in safety then you have no business handling hot herps!!! or any dangerous species for that matter .
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Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by rihnoruss on May 1, 2004
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please disregard the above comment by rhinoruss . while this is the least offensive one so far , it was still not made by me. please see my letter of apology on the "bitten by a copperhead " comments area.
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Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by Hannes on December 17, 2004
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Nice and interesting article Micah.
I also have been bitten by an Atheris but not a Sedge Viper and didnt have to suffer as much as you did.
I was bitten on my indexfinger by a subadult Atheris chlorechis while trying to sex him/her.
The animals had just arived from africa to a friend of mine when i learned that a small viper with alot of loose skin can do a 180 twist and tag you with one fang even if you think that you have a secure grip.
Just as Micah i dint feel a thing from the bite. A couple of minutes later a friend was driving me to the hospitel, and we arriwed about 1 hour after the bite. By then my finger was swollen to twice its size and the swelling was going up into my hand.I told the doctor that there where no antivenins for Atheris bites. The doctor tested me (bloodtest, heart and so on) and then called the central for envenemations and poisoning ("Giftinformations centralen" in Swedish) who adviced her to give me echis antivenin that i didnt even knew existed. I dint want the antivenin as I dint feel that ill and the doctor agreed to just put me in an intensiveward for observation over night to se what happend. During the night the pain was greater (burning sensetion) but the swelling stoped and i was out of the hospital the next day. After about five days the finger was back to normal except for som discoloration (black) on the bitesite. The pain disapered more and more and after 2 weeks it was gone. The finger was stiff for some months after the bite and is still alittle stiff when my hands are cold (10 months later).
I think i was really lucky to get away that easy and some resons for getting away that easy i belive is:
*The viper only tagged me with one fang
*They had been transported in baggs from africa and probably had been biting the bags and wasted alot of venom.
*The viper was not an adult
So a full bite from any of these African beautys should be avoided at all costs.
l hope you can read my english
/Johannes
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RE: Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by toddg on September 21, 2005
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After reading this article, I can't help but think that not only is it a good idea to have your own antivenom, but also to have a specific doctor aware of not only what you are keeping, but how to treat a bite from it. It sounds to me like the quack in queation could have killed this poor fellow out of sheer arogance and ignorance!
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Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by CanadianSnakeMan on April 18, 2006
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A good warning to anyone who wants to keep hots without guidance from an experienced keeper. Sucks about the hospital bill. I'm thankful for Canada's free healthcare should I ever be bitten, but i'll try my best not to let it happen.
I've always had a love for Atheris and i'm looking to add some to my collection, but i've always heard nothing but horror stories about their bites. Can anyone give me some advice on keeping and handling them or any links where i can find more info?
I'm glad you made it through ok,
best of luck in the future.
Luke
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RE: Bitten by a Sedge Viper !
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by Enro on June 16, 2007
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A comment and a question: Last week I got hooked on my left index finger by one fang of a baby Pacific Coast Rattler (? - Sierra Nevada foothills). It sounds like much the same situation as Hannes describes. (I was trying to measure the squishy little dude.)
The local hospital (Visalia, California) dripped two bags of anti-venin into me, and added some of the heart medication I forgot to bring with me. Total stay: 1-3/4 days. Pharmacy bill alone: $41,671, virtually all of it antivenin, I'm sure.
Can someone explain this apparently outrageous charge? I understand that vets charge around $2-$4 thousand for pets that get bit.
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