Starting with a simple DNA swab taken from fang marks on people bitten by snakes, an international research team correctly identified the species of the biting snake 100 percent of the time in a first-of-its-kind clinical study, according to data presented today at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's (ASTMH) Annual Meeting.
The study, conducted at three medical facilities in Nepal, found that if snake DNA could be isolated from the bite wound, the test identified the species of snake responsible every time.
"These findings represent a significant step toward improving care for patients in areas of the world where snakebites constitute a massive but neglected health risk," said Franois Chappuis, MD, PhD, chief of the division of tropical and humanitarian medicine at Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland, who directed the study and presented the results. "This DNA test may hasten more effective bedside diagnostics for snakebite victims, giving them a better chance of surviving and making a full recovery."
Bites from venomous snakes are common in many parts of the world and an especially serious unresolved health problem to millions of people living in South and Southeast Asia, as well as Africa and Latin America. Although there are no reliable numbers at the global scale, a study published in 2008 estimated at least 421,000 cases of envenomation and up to 94,000 deaths occur worldwide from snakebite each year. However, experts warn that these figures may underestimate the real problem, which is believed to affect several million people bitten by venomous snakes annually and hundreds of thousands who die or survive disabled, suffering from amputation or deformed limbs as a result of unavailable or delayed treatment.
In some villages of the study area of southeast Nepal reported today, a community-based survey in 2002 revealed an estimated 1,162 snakebites and 162 snakebite deaths per 100,000 people per year, one of the highest rates ever reported. Likewise, a recent survey of more than one million deaths in India, published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases in 2011, found that 46,000 people die every year in India from snakebites. This figure is about 20 times the official death toll recorded in Indian hospitals, most likely because less than one in four fatal snakebite cases had received any hospital treatment, the study revealed.
"People bitten by snakes in South Asia often do not seek treatment at a medical facility, and if they do, the vast majority don't take the snake to clinics, although it is often killed, and can't identify the species that bit them," Chappuis said. "Yet knowing the species of snake is critical to determining the best course of treatment."
In Nepal, for example, cobras and kraits are among the most common venomous snakes. Their venoms attack the nervous system and can be fatal. Patients bitten by either snake have similar symptoms, such as nausea, headache, drowsiness and limb as well as respiratory paralysis. However, the toxins of these snakes and their mechanisms of action differ, and so does the response to antivenom and other drugs. For example, the locally available antivenom has limited or no efficacy against krait envenomation, which often leads to useless repeated doses resulting in increased cost and--possibly--adverse side effects, explained Chappuis. Also, bites by cobras and kraits lead to different complications that the attending physicians need to prevent or be prepared for. Therefore, positive identification of the biting species becomes important to effective treatment.
Preliminary results presented today show that among 194 bite-site DNA samples collected in Nepal during the study, 87 were from a venomous species. The spectacled cobra accounted for 42 bites and the common krait for 22. In 21 cases, the patients brought the dead snake with them, and in those cases expert examination of the snake and the DNA test, performed by different investigators, independently provided the correct identification. Snake DNA could be obtained from about one in four bite wounds. According to the researchers, one factor that excluded samples was if the patient attempted folk or home remedies tampering with the bite site prior to arriving at the medical clinic.
The research team also correlated clinical symptoms with the species biting patients. They found that krait bites happened more often at night, indoors, or while people were sleeping, while cobra or pitviper bites were more likely to cause swelling at the bite site. The technique also identified several species of non-venomous snake involved in bites.
"The proportion of non-venomous snakes that bite people is actually rather high," said Ulrich Kuch, PhD, of the department of tropical medicine and public health in the Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine of Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany), and developer of the snake DNA identification test. "Snakebite patients are kept in the hospital for 24-hour observation, which strains healthcare resources in many countries. By identifying species of nonvenomous snake, it is also possible to assist the local people and avoid hospital stays for those not at risk of envenomation."
The rest is here:
Forensic DNA test conclusively links snake bite marks on people to species
- Discovering the mysteries of human DNA - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Scientists go deeper into DNA - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Instant Egghead - Genes vs. DNA vs. Chromosomes - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- DNA Calls Out Lineup Of Rappers For Future Battles - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- What is DNA? - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Turn Your DNA Into Fine Art, BMW Zagato Roadster - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- DNA - OFFICIAL URLTV SUMMER MADNESS 2 RECAP! - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- "Binary DNA" - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- 16x9 - DNA Prophecies: Code reveals your future - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Gilbert Gottfried - Space DNA, Sexy Weight Loss, Badonkadonk Booty - Gilbert Gets It - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Animated Health Video Production | DNA Services of America - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Michael Tsarion ~ Mayans ~ 2012 ~ DNA - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Mini-drones to take your DNA? - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- C2CAM - DNA Research - 07-09-2012 - Coast To Coast AM - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Inside The DNA Of MDNA - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- KOTD - Rap Battle - DNA vs Eurgh - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Starchild DNA Showing "Wright" Stuff - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Chrome Cats - DNA of a Winner(Official Video) - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- DNA leads to arrest in 1980 murder of Oxnard girl [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- 'Junk' DNA: Not So Useless After All [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2012]
- Decoding Human DNA [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2012]
- Planet of the Apes: What is that big hunk of 'junk' DNA up to ? [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2012]
- Genetics Breakthrough Changes Thinking About DNA [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2012]
- 'Junk DNA' and the mystery of mankind's missing genes [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2012]
- Real-time observation of single DNA molecule repair [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2012]
- Court hears DNA findings in child sex case [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2012]
- 2012 International Symposium on Human Identification Features Emerging and Best Practice Forensic DNA Techniques ... [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2012]
- DNA could help ID a king [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- DNA with a Twist [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- Three reasons to like junk DNA [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- LBNL Seeks Licensees for Highly Specific and Sensitive DNA Extraction Method [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- Under-twisted DNA origami delivers cancer drugs to tumors [Last Updated On: September 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 13th, 2012]
- DNA ‘junk' contains a treasure of information about disease [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2012]
- Research: Hopping DNA supercoils [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2012]
- DNA evidence missing in Assange case [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2012]
- Missing DNA evidence in Assange case [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2012]
- No Assange DNA on torn condom - report [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2012]
- Calif. DNA Collection From Arrestees Challenged [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- Federal appeals court to hear challenge to California DNA collection law [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2012]
- Applied DNA Sciences Contracts With Inventionland [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2012]
- Applied DNA Sciences, Textile Centre of Excellence Unveil Textiles Anti-Counterfeiting Platform [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2012]
- Rapist caught by DNA test jailed [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2012]
- FBI eager to embrace mobile 'Rapid DNA' testing [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2012]
- Expansion of criminal DNA collection proposed [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2012]
- Assessment of HPV DNA Alone Insufficient to Identify HPV-Driven Head and Neck Cancers [Last Updated On: September 19th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 19th, 2012]
- George Zimmerman's DNA, not Trayvon Martin's, found on gun [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2012]
- George Zimmerman: No DNA evidence of a struggle for his gun [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2012]
- DNA evidence links Vallejo man to January stabbing in SLO, police say [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2012]
- Legal hurdles threaten to slow FBI's 'Rapid DNA' revolution [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2012]
- Judge denies motions to dismiss DNA evidence in Hudson murder case [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- Researchers report novel approach for single molecule electronic DNA sequencing [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- Novel approach for single molecule electronic DNA sequencing [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- DNA helps Wyckoff police nab 'motorcycle burglar' [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2012]
- Novel DNA barcode engineered: New technology could launch biomedical imaging to next level [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- DNA Microarray 2012: A Focus on Sales Growth [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- DNA in 1980 Maine murder case shown to match defendant [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- DNA recovered during Rayney probe [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2012]
- FBI makes headway on DNA testing backlog, report says [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2012]
- Male DNA found for first time in female brains [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2012]
- Bearing Sons Leaves Male DNA Traces in Mom's Brain [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- Many female brains contain male DNA [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- New drive to take criminals' DNA [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- DNA remains focus in Highway of Tears cases [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2012]
- Analysing The Evidence On DNA [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- DNA Clears Death Row Inmate [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- Burn victim identified by DNA in maggots [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- DNA fails to match couple on two other skeletons [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2012]
- DNA Dynamics Update on Sports Title [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- DNA solves teen's 1974 murder [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Some Women's Brains Contain Male DNA: Study [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- DNA exonerates man after 15 years on death row - Video [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- DNA link prompts charges in cold case rapes - Video [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- DNA testing has its limits [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- DNA evidence exonerates 300th prisoner nationwide [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- DNA testing facility in Pune to speed up cases in Mumbai [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Rape DNA process 'not adequate' [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- IntegenX Announces U.S. Launch of the RapidHIT™ 200 System – Rapid DNA Technology That Will Revolutionize the Use of ... [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- 300th person exonerated by DNA evidence [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- Inherited Diseases Found Sooner in Newborns With DNA Scan [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Woman charged in husband's death gives DNA sample [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]