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RE: anitvenom
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by LarryDFishel on February 12, 2006
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Sorry, I know very little about spiders...except that very few of them are dangerous...
The problem of uninformed doctors is a tough one. It came up in a meeting I attended of an advisory group to Florida Fish and Wildlfe. We suggested putting together an info packet and distibuting it to hospitals in Florida. The consensus opinion was that the doctors probably wouldn't bother to read it, and no one really had the authority to make them read (or even keep) it. In their defense, most ER doctors barely have time to sleep let alone read about something they will probably never treat. I really suspect that snake bites are probably just one of thousands of things that are mistreated every day, and it just happens that there is a large body of non-doctors that are familiar enough with the problem to point it out. There probably aren't that many hobbyists studying Ichthyosis to notice when a doctor misses a diagnosis...
I'm certainly no expert on stem cells, but I don't think they would be very useful in producing antibodies, or at least it sounds like a round-about way of doing it. The one thing I know is currently in the works is that someone has been studying using chicken egges to manufacture venom antibodies, but there's been very little info put out about their progress. They claim that the eggs will produce much higher concentrations of antibodies at a fraction of the price and without the ethical issues of injecting poison into and extracting blood from a live animal (depending on your definition of "live" of course).
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RE: anitvenom
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by Anti-VenomMan on February 15, 2006
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Anti-venom producers are well on their way to making synthetic anti-venoms.
We have phone number available 24 hrs in which hospitals will be assisted for any envenomation by (snakes, spiders, scorpions, marine animals, insects….). As well, we have 43 different anti-venoms available to them. We also have 24 hr contacts to a variety of snake bite experts from Dr. S. Bush, Dr. B. Fry, Dr. D. Warrell, and Dr. K. Winkle. Also, Bill Haast. In addition, there are Poison Control Centers in Arizona, Colorado, Miami, Nebraska (and many more) where the Doctors are highly educated in handling native and exotic envenomations. One of the problems is that there is only one Anti-venom Bank for public use in the U.S. Hospitals should carry the FDA approved anti-venoms such as (Cro-fab, Wyeth, Coral, Polyvalent, and Merck Back Widow), but more than often they don’t. If they do, it’s not always enough to treat a moderate to severe bite. The anti-venoms for exotic bites are not FDA approved, so hospitals cannot stock them. This leaves an interesting challenge for the ER doctor. The snake is usually identified be the keeper, but anti-venom needs to be found. This can be done through a call to us or Poison Control Centers(although this is not always thought of right away). Here’s where the zoos come in. They have special permits to stock antivenoms for the animals on display. But this can be time consuming if you have a scenario where you are in a place like Wyoming and you’re bit by our Rhino Viper, and the closest A/V is in Denver Zoo which is happens to be closed for the day. Then, an administrator is called who has to drive to the zoo (without lights and sirens), get the A/V, and take it to the airport. Then, it has to be put it on the plane by someone who is a “known shipper” (thanks to 9/11) they weren't. This is exactly what happened about 6 months ago.
Our full time job (24 hrs day)is to maintain the Bank, handle or assist with envenomations, and educate the community for the 1st grader to the ER doctor. We also are known shippers as well as having 24 hr emergency response vehicles and a network of aircraft to get things where they need to go.
Lieutenant Charles R. Seifert
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Venom Response Team
(786) 331-4444 Office
(786) 229-0430 Cell
(305) 222-2125 Fax
(305) 366-3087 Pager
E-mail: seifert@miamidade.gov
Web site: www.venomone.com
“No Animal has been more worshipped yet more cast out, more loved yet more despised, more envied yet more caged, and more collected yet more trampled upon than the snake.” Findlay E Russel MD.
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RE: anitvenom
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by Rosestars on February 17, 2006
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Dear Mr Seifert,
I didnt know that help like you describe existed . And from many of the posts I read on here others may not either. I hope the hospitals they went to do though. Thanks so much for responding. You know near me is a serpentarium . I have never been there. I wonder if they stock anitvenom and what kind of snakes they have. I will call them and find out. Are the owners of exotic snakes allowed to stock the antivenom? Do you think a zoo would be willing to have their antivenom area remain open for calls 24 hours for snake bites? Are you saying that sometimes the antivenom arrives too late? Is it possible to get antivenom not fda approved from a nearby country like Canada or Mexico? Its so good to know you exist and work so hard to help snake bite victims. What do you think could have been done for a cat ? Or would it be too late for such a small animal?
Lisa
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RE: anitvenom
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by Anti-VenomMan on February 21, 2006
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Lisa,
Really don’t have alot of time to post things between work and family. There are only two of us doing what seems to be a ten man job at times. Most serpentariums do have some anti-venom. Owners can apply for FDA permits to import antivenoms but it is very difficult process and cost of everything is a big deterrent. Also doctors don’t like to or won’t give a med where they don’t know what condition it was kept in. Zoos purchase the antivenom for their keepers no for the public and the cost of keeping it available 24 hrs is another factor. To bring in antivenom from out side the US it has to clear Customs, US Fish and Wildlife, USDA and FDA. Hope the person is still hanging in there. We have saved quite a few cats and dogs!
Lieutenant Charles R. Seifert
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue
Venom Response Team
(786) 331-4444 Office
(305) 222-2125 Fax
(305) 366-3087 Pager
E-mail: seifert@miamidade.gov
Web site: www.venomone.com
“No Animal has been more worshipped yet more cast out, more loved yet more despised, more envied yet more caged, and more collected yet more trampled upon than the snake.” Findlay E Russel MD.
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