Prospective studies of snake bite patients in Chittagong, Bangladesh, included five cases of bites by greater black kraits (Bungarus niger), proven by examination of the snakes that had been responsible. This species was previously known only from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Burma. The index case presented with descending flaccid paralysis typical of neurotoxic envenoming by all Bungarus species, but later developed generalized rhabdomyolysis (peak serum creatine kinase concentration 29,960 units/l) with myoglobinuria and acute renal failure from which he succumbed. Among the other four patients, one died of respiratory paralysis in a peripheral hospital and three recovered after developing paralysis, requiring mechanical ventilation in one patient. One patient suffered severe generalized myalgia and odynophagia associated with a modest increase in serum creatine kinase concentration. These are the first cases of Bungarus niger envenoming to be reported from any country. Generalized rhabdomyolysis has not been previously recognized as a feature of envenoming by any terrestrial Asian elapid snake, but a review of the literature suggests that venoms of some populations of Bungarus candidus and Bungarus multicinctus in Thailand and Vietnam may also have this effect in human victims. To investigate this unexpected property of Bungarus niger venom, venom from the snake responsible for one of the human cases of neuro-myotoxic envenoming was injected into one hind limb of rats and saline into the other under buprenorphine analgesia. All animals developed paralysis of the venom-injected limb within two hours. Twenty-four hours later, the soleus muscles were compared histopathologically and cytochemically. Results indicated a predominantly pre-synaptic action (β-bungarotoxins) of Bungarus niger venom at neuromuscular junctions, causing loss of synaptophysin and the degeneration of the terminal components of the motor innervation of rat skeletal muscle. There was oedema and necrosis of extrafusal muscle fibres in envenomed rat soleus muscles confirming the myotoxic effect of Bungarus niger venom, attributable to phospholipases A₂. This study has demonstrated that Bungarus niger is widely distributed in Bangladesh and confirms the risk of fatal neuro-myotoxic envenoming, especially as no specific antivenom is currently manufactured. The unexpected finding of rhabdomyolysis should prompt further investigation of the venom components responsible. The practical implications of having to treat patients with rhabdomyolysis and consequent acute renal failure, in addition to the more familiar respiratory failure associated with krait bite envenoming, should not be underestimated in a country that is poorly equipped to deal with such emergencies.
Mammals were studied at the Baraiyadhala National Park, Chittagong from August 2012 to July 2013. Twenty nine species of mammals belonging to 26 genera, 17 families and 9 orders were recorded. Of the recorded species, 2 were primates, 10 rodents, 1 lagomorph (hare), 5 chiropterans (bats), 1 manid, 7 carnivores and 3 ungulates. Rodentia appeared as the largest family contained 10 speices. The overall mammalian population density was 239.12/km 2. Irrawardy squirrel (Callosciurus pygerythrus) scored the highest density (112.97/km 2) and several species attained the lowest (1/km 2 each). Local status (relative abundance) of mammals assessed where 15 (51.72%) species were rare, and according to National Conservation Status, 13 (44.82%) were remarked as threatened species of that area. There were some major threats to the park such as forest fire, encroachment of forest and forest edges by both tribal and landless people, illegal exploitation of forest resources, grazing of livestock and unavailable water reservoirs.
The occurrence of Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii Shaw and Nodder 1797) in Bangladesh is century old information and its rarity was known to the wildlife biologists till 2013 but its recent booming is also causing a major threat to human life in the area. Recently it has been reported from nine districts (Dinajpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Rajbari, Chuadanga and Patuakhali) and old records revealed 11 districts (Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Rajshahi, Bogra, Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat and Chittagong). Thus altogether 17 out of 64 districts in Bangladesh, of which Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi are most affected and 20 people died due to Russell’s viper bite during 2013 to 2016. Its past and present distribution in Bangladesh and death toll of its bites have been discussed. Its booming causes have also been predicted and precautions have been recommended. Research on Russell’s viper is deemed necessary due to reemergence in deadly manner. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 44(1): 15-22, June 2018
Data are given on aspccts of the biology of Aspideretes nigricans, a turtle whose distribution is confined to a religious shrine in Bangladesh. These data may provide a biological base on which more detailed studies of this rare species might be initiated.
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