Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia

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  Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia Abstract Tarantulas play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating insect populations. However, little is known about the soil preferences and burrow structures of tarantulas in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the soil preference as well as the burrow structure of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  from Penang Island. The soil characteristics of the soil samples collected around the burrows of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  (n = 30) and  Chilobrachys andersoni  (n = 30) were determined using soil texture analysis. The measurements and burrow structures from adults and juveniles of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  were determined. It was revealed that the moisture content and clay percentage in the soil samples around burrows of  Chilobrachys anderso...

A Novel Equine F[abʹ]2 Veterinary Antivenom for North American Viperid Snake Envenomation Demonstrates Efficacy by Rapid Serum Venom Removal and Improvement in Snakebite Severity Score

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A Novel Equine F[abʹ]2 Veterinary Antivenom for North American Viperid Snake Envenomation Demonstrates Efficacy by Rapid Serum Venom Removal and Improvement in Snakebite Severity Score

ABSTRACT

Objective

To assess the efficacy of a new equine F[abʹ]2 antivenom (US Department of Agriculture code 6101.05) in removing serum venom and lowering the snakebite severity score (SSS) in animals suffering from naturally occurring viperid envenomation.

Design

Retrospective study, April 2020 to October 2021.

Setting

Veterinary hospitals across four North American regions.

Animals

Twenty-two dogs, one cat, and one horse.

Interventions

All patients received the new antivenom intravenously and were assessed for clinical response. Most dogs required one vial for clinical control of signs.

Measurements and Main Results

Among the dogs and cats with detectable initial serum venom, 94.4% showed a strong response to antivenom administration, with a reduction in serum venom ranging from 94% to >99% at 2 h. Animals that experienced a 90% reduction of serum venom within 2 h greatly exceeded the 0% expected of an ineffective antivenom. The canine and feline SSS improved relative to the initial SSS at 2, 6, and 12 h in 57.9%, 77.8%, and 90.9% of cases, respectively. A favorable reduction in SSS was also appreciated in the single horse in the study.

Conclusions

In the canine, feline, and equine cases of North American viperid envenomation studied, antivenom 6101.05 adequately removed serum venom and lowered the SSS.


Carotenuto, S. E., Broussard, G., Fox, G. A., & Hayes, W. K. A Novel Equine F[abʹ]2 Veterinary Antivenom for North American Viperid Snake Envenomation Demonstrates Efficacy by Rapid Serum Venom Removal and Improvement in Snakebite Severity Score. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. https://doi.org/10.1111/vec.70082