Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Protein C levels drop in dogs bitten by Vipera palaestinae snake
By Hadar, Gil et al.·Published in Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology·2014·Koret School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Protein C activity in dogs envenomed by Vipera palaestinae.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs that were bitten by a venomous snake called Vipera palaestinae showed lower levels of a key protein (protein C) that helps prevent blood clotting compared to healthy dogs. This study found that the affected dogs had an average protein C level of just 12.9%, which is significantly lower than the 22.9% seen in healthy dogs. While 13% of the envenomed dogs did not survive, the protein C levels did not significantly predict which dogs would recover. The findings suggest that low protein C levels could contribute to complications like blood clotting issues in these snakebite cases.
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Abstract
Vipera palaestinae is responsible for most envenomations in humans and domestic animal in Israel. Its venom has pro- and anticoagulant properties. Protein C is a major natural anticoagulant, preventing excess clotting and thrombosis. This study investigated protein C activity and its prognostic value, as well as several other hemostatic analytes in dogs (Canis familiaris) accidently envenomed by V. palaestinae. Protein C activity was compared between envenomed dogs and 33 healthy control dogs. Mean protein C was lower in dogs envenomed by V. palaestinae compared to controls (12.9% vs. 22.9%, respectively; P < 0.01). It was positively correlated with antithrombin activity (r = 0.3, P = 0.04), but not with other hemostatic analytes. The overall mortality rate was 13%, and at presentation no significant protein C activity difference was noted between survivors and non-survivors. A receiver operator characteristics analysis of protein C activity as a predictor of mortality had an area under the curve of 0.7 (95% confidence interval 0.52-0.87). A protein C cutoff point of 8% corresponded to sensitivity and specificity of 70% and 57%, respectively. Dogs diagnosed with consumptive coagulopathy (14%) tended to have lower protein C activity compared to others; however, their mortality did differ from that of other dogs. This is the first study assessing protein C activity in V. palaestinae victims. Decreased protein C activity in such dogs may play a role in formation of thrombosis and hemostatic derangement as well as inflammation in V. palaestinae envenomations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24905649/