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UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by FLherp on June 16, 2008
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PHOENIX, June 14 (UPI) -- Talk of super-venomous U.S. rattlesnakes
was prompted by a spike in the number of seriously ailing rattlesnake
victims in Phoenix, officials say.
Arizona wildlife and toxicology experts say that while there may have
been an increase in serious rattlesnake attacks in parts of Arizona,
along with California and Colorado, a so-called super-venom was
likely not involved, The Arizona Republic reported Saturday.
Arizona Poison Control Center toxicologist Jude McNally has suggested
that such super-venom talk was likely due to the fact the potency of
rattlesnakes' venom can differ dramatically.
McNally, who is preparing a study on the issue, told the Republic
certain rattlesnakes are born with venom that can be 10 times as
deadly as other members of their species.
Meanwhile, Arizona Game and Fish biologist Thomas Jones has suggested
the more serious attacks were due to specific circumstances.
"An aggravated snake uses more venom," the state official told the
newspaper.
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by FLherp on June 16, 2008
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A link to the original:
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/06/14/Rattlesnake_bites_cause_super_venom_rumor/UPI-93981213469799/
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by Cro on June 16, 2008
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Jeffrey, the problem with this is that the news folks all add their own interpretations and false information.
I subscribe to news feeds, and have seen 40 or 50 different versions of this report, after it was changed by reporters who modified it for their own use.
That makes it very difficult for the factual versions to make it to the public.
Personally, I do not think that venoms are getting stronger in many rattlesnakes over their whole range, as the news folks are suggesting.
I think that there are disjunct populations that might have evolved and produce stronger venoms due to feeding and habitat preferences.
But, how do we get that information to folks ? News folks thrive on sensationalism. Most of them do not care a whit if the facts are right or not.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by FLherp on June 17, 2008
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True, the best resource will always be the original research and other non-sensationalized reports via journals, etc. where there is peer review.
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by FLherp on June 17, 2008
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Also, this report suggests that there is no "super venom." There has been no study to determine if there has been a change in the venom, probably no baseline data to make such a determination. The initial reports were based on anecdotes; as with many things we remember the unusual events, ignore normal everyday events, and invent trends where none may exist.
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by Phobos on June 17, 2008
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I think that it a combination of things including humans may be getting more sensitive to foreign proteins including venoms. Look at the number of kids that have food & enviromental allergies. The venom including the variabilites Jude described on top of more sensitive humans gives you a complex group of bites.
Al
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RE: UPI: Super Venom Rumor
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by GREGLONGHURST on June 17, 2008
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One other thing to throw into the mix is the lower efficiency of the new antivenin. A bite that may have been neutralized by 50 cc's of the old might need two or three times that of the new, leading some to think the bite was more severe.
~~Greg~~
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