Case solved: presence of toxin-secreting oral glands in the lamprophiid snake Mimophis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867) from Madagascar

Rosa, Gonçalo M.; Boistel, Renaud; Campantico, Ezio; Gillet, Brigitte; Bergò, Paolo Eusebio; Andreone, Franco

doi:10.1007/s00435-014-0234-7

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Although no description of these glands in L. madagascariensis is available, it was recently described in Mimophis mahfalensis , a species of psammophiine lamprophiid snake [7]. Hemolytic activity has been recorded when the Duvernoy’s gland secretion from L. geayi was mixed with blood from mice, rabbit, and chicken, and injections of gland secretion from L. geayi into mice resulted in paralysis and, ultimately, death within twenty minutes [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several Malagasy genera are aglyphous, whereas others are opisthoglyphous, i.e., they have grooved rear fangs and are considered as mildly venomous, but little is known on the effects of their venoms to humans [4, 5]. Until now, mild “envenomation” caused by accidental bites by Malagasy snakes has been reported only for the psammophiine species Mimophis mahfalensis [6, 7] and six pseudoxyrhophiine species: two species of Madagascarophis [6, 8], Leioheterodon modestus [5], Leioheterodon madagascariensis [9], Ithycyphus miniatus [10], and Langaha madagascariensis [11], all of which can attain a relatively large size (≥1 m total length).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potential envenomation by the aglyphous pseudoxyrhophiine snake Leioheterodon madagascariensis and description of its dentition

Razafimahatratra¹,

Wang²,

Mori³

et al. 2015

J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis

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We report on a case of potential envenomation caused by multiple bites by the aglyphous opisthodont snake Leioheterodon madagascariensis in the left thumb of a healthy adult man, which is among the most serious snakebites hitherto reported from Madagascar. The adult snake (total length > 1 meter) was unusually aggressive before and during capture. The symptoms included extensive bleeding, severe local pain, and substantial swelling of the hand and the distal part of the lower arm. The swelling disappeared entirely after five days, but pain in the thumb (when moved) was recognizable even longer. Although L. madagascariensis is widespread and common in anthropogenic habitats in eastern and western Madagascar, this case report seems to be the first description of long-lasting symptoms of its bite. Since aglyphous snakes are relatively rarely involved in “envenomation” and because hemolytic activity has been recorded in the secretions of the Duvernoy’s glands of Leioheterodon, we describe its dentition using microcomputed tomography and discuss the potential mode of envenomation in this case.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40409-015-0047-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%