Successful use of camelid (alpaca) antivenom to treat a potentially lethal tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) envenomation in a dog

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) Vol. 114; pp. 59 - 64
• Main Authors: Padula, Andrew M., Winkel, Kenneth D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2016
• Subjects: Alpaca; Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Antivenins - adverse effects; Antivenins - therapeutic use; Blood; Blood Coagulation - drug effects; Camelid antivenoms; Camelids, New World; Dexamethasone - therapeutic use; Dog; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dogs; Domestic; Elapid Venoms - antagonists & inhibitors; Elapid Venoms - blood; Elapid Venoms - urine; ELISA; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Histamine Antagonists - therapeutic use; Immunoassays; Medical services; Notechis scutatus; Prothrombin; Serums; Snake antivenom snakebite; Snake Bites - drug therapy; Snake Bites - veterinary; Snake venom; Snakes; Tiger snake; Urine; Venom; Snake venom; Snake antivenom snakebite; Camelid antivenoms; Venom; Antibodies; Notechis scutatus; Alpaca; Tiger snake; Dog; Immunoassays; ELISA
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.02.018

This report describes a confirmed clinical case of tiger snake (Notechis scutatus) envenomation in a domestic dog that was successfully treated with a novel polyvalent camelid (alpaca; Llama pacos) antivenom. Samples collected from the dog were assayed for tiger snake venom (TSV) using a highly sensitive and specific ELISA. The TSV concentration in serum and urine at initial presentation was 365 ng/mL and 11,640 ng/mL respectively. At the time of initial presentation whole blood collected from the dog did not clot and the Prothrombin Time was abnormally increased (>300 s). Serum was also visibly hemolysed. The dog was administered antihistamine, dexamethasone and 4000 Units (sufficient to neutralise 40 mg of TSV) of a novel polyvalent alpaca antivenom diluted in 0.9% NaCl. At 4 h post-antivenom treatment the dog's clinical condition had improved markedly with serum TSV concentrations below the limit of detection (<0.015 ng/mL), consistent with complete binding of venom antigens by the alpaca antivenom. Coagulation parameters had begun to improve by 4 h and had fully normalised by 16 h post-antivenom. Venom concentrations in both serum and urine remained undetectable at 16 h post-antivenom. The dog made a complete recovery, without complications, suggesting that the alpaca-based antivenom is both clinically safe and effective. •Successful treatment of a dog envenomed by a tiger snake (Notechis scutatus).•Treated with a novel polyvalent camelid (alpaca) antivenom.•Venom concentrations assayed in urine and serum by ELISA.•Camelid anti-tiger snake venom capture antibodies in ELISA.•No adverse effects and prompt recovery of the envenomed dog.