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Medical maggots used in snake bite!
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by Ptk on May 10, 2010
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Is this voodoo medicine or real?
Came across an article today suggesting medical maggot therapy as a possible snake bite treatment. A case was sited using the maggots on an envenomated horse. Attending vet suspected a RS had bitten the horse on the head as it was laying down.
I can believe there would be some positive benefit to maggot therapy with addressing some necrosis and infection at the bite site, post bite. As a "first-aid" treatment I suspect the maggots would just die from the snake venom toxins if still concentrated enough to be causing further tissue damage or have no real positive benefit until the tissue damage was present. Secondly doubt there would be any systemic benefit from the maggots short of removing bacteria from the bite site.
The article goes on to state a marked improvement after the first application 24-48hrs reducing swelling in the horse's neck.
Interesting concept but not sure if maggots would be any better than traditional antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
PTK
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RE: Medical maggots used in snake bite!
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by HerpHunter63 on May 10, 2010
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Very interesting! They could be an alternative option! In my opinion though, I think I'll stay with the medicines LOL!
Andrew
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RE: Medical maggots used in snake bite!
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by agkistrodude on May 10, 2010
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Maggots are known to eat the infected/dead tisue, leaving only healthy live tissue behind. I don't think it is widely used, but the treatment has been around for years and years. Take care, Marty
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RE: Medical maggots used in snake bite!
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by Ptk on May 11, 2010
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Marty, you are right maggot use has been around awhile. I guess the part that had me scratching my head was the suggestion that they could be used as a type of first aid. I guess sucking the venom out or absorbing the toxins some how. I am assuming this belief comes from the medical use of leeches and is false. Sorry if I didnt make that clear.
PTK
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RE: Medical maggots used in snake bite!
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by CanadianSnakeMan on May 11, 2010
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Patrick,
I believe that some of the logic here is flawed as far as a first aid application of maggots. Unless maggots have some sort of special properties I am unaware of, they would do little to remove any venom from a bite. By the time the fly had laid its eggs and the larvae became active, the the venom would most likely have had its full effect. Even if fully developed maggots were placed on the bite I doubt it would make a difference. I think the reduction of inflammation was not due to maggots, but to the severity of the bite, the species of snake involved and the horse's ability to cope.
Maggots will eat necrotic tissue, but they also can spread bacteria through the wound as they crawl around. Some maggots have a symbiotic relationship with certain bacteria in that the bacteria kill living tissue, maggots eat the dead tissue and spread bacteria to kill more living tissue thus continuing the cycle.
Also, I believe you mentioned that the venom in the wound might kill the maggots that eat the tissue. As far as I understand it, ingested venom will be broken down by the digestive system into harmless amino acids. A problem would only arise if one were to have a stomach ulcer or an open sore by which the venom could act on exposed tissue.
Interesting theory though.
Take care,
Luke
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