Necrophagous Insects (Coleoptera: Silphidae; Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the Diet of the Cottonmouth Snake, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Serpentes: Viperidae), in South Carolina, U.S.A.

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 96
Author(s):  
Grant D. De Jong
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Agkistrodon Piscivorus

scholarly journals Hematologic Effects Following Crotalinae and Unknown Snake Bites in Northeast Florida

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Satish Maharaj ◽  
Simone Chang ◽  
Karan Seegobin ◽  
Marwan Shaikh ◽  
Vivek R. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
The United States ◽  
Agkistrodon Piscivorus ◽  
Agkistrodon Contortrix ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Snake Bites ◽  
Severe Hemorrhage ◽  
Hematological Abnormalities ◽  
Sistrurus Miliarius

Background: Approximately 5000 snake bites are reported in the United States (US) annually with half of these patients being admitted. Crotalinae species are the most numerous; coral and imported exotic snakes cause a smaller number. Snake venoms are highly stable chemically complex mixtures of proteins. Quantity and composition vary with species and geographic location. Although enzymes contribute to the deleterious effects of the venom, the lethal components may be the smaller low molecular-weight polypeptides. Crotalinae envenomation is known to contain thrombin-like glycoproteins that can induce coagulopathy ranging from asymptomatic lab abnormality to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and life-threatening hemorrhage. In certain geographical areas of the United States thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia and coagulopathy are common hematological abnormalities, and ones that dictate both a reason for treatment with antivenom as well as an important monitor of therapeutic efficacy. Data on hematological abnormalities following envenomation by crotaline species in Northeast Florida/Southwest Georgia has not been reported before. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of envenomations that presented to the University of Florida at Jacksonville from April 2013 to October 2018. Patients had to be 16 years or older without any pre-existing hematologic disorder or use of anticoagulant medications. Data including Complete Blood Count, Prothrombin Time (PT), activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) and Fibrinogen were measured on presentation, and 4 hours after. Crotaline Fab antivenom (CroFab®) administration was noted if done. Adverse events associated with antivenom therapy, recurrence phenomena, delayed onset of symptoms, and performance of fasciotomy were also recorded. Results: Overall, 119 snakebites were evaluated. The majority were identified as Crotalinae - 25 water moccasin, copperhead or cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus, Agkistrodon contortrix) bites and 34 rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius, Crotalus adamanteus) bites. Male sex dominated the sample with most patients middle-aged (Table 1). More than 80% of patients arrived within 6 hours following the bite. Over 60% of patients received crotaline Fab antivenom. Results are presented in Table 2. Around 12% of patients with water moccasin, copperhead or cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus, Agkistrodon contortrix) bites had coagulopathy on admission. This compares similarly to data from South Carolina previously showing a 10.89% rate following copperhead bites (Qureshi et al. Blood 2010;116(21):4753). The rate of coagulopathy with rattlesnake bites was however much higher in North Florida at 20.6% - compared to 5.26% in the South Carolina series. Rates of DIC or severe hemorrhage were 8% for water moccasin, copperhead or cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus, Agkistrodon contortrix) bites and 5.9% for rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius, Crotalus adamanteus) bites. When hemostatic defects were looked at separately, the most common abnormality induced was PT/aPTT derangement, followed by hypofibrinogenemia and then thrombocytopenia. This pattern was the same as reported in South Carolina. Recurrence phenomena was observed after 4 hours in a number of patients, however the significance of this remains uncertain as most of these patients remained clinically stable without worsening symptoms. Anaphylactic reaction to the antivenom developed in one patient. Conclusions: In this sample from North Florida, deranged PT/aPTT was the most common hematologic abnormality following envenomation, followed by hypofibrinogenemia and a low rate of thrombocytopenia. Similarities with data from South Carolina were noted, although rattlesnake bites had 4 times higher incidence of coagulopathy in North Florida. DIC or severe hemorrhage was a notable toxicity, affecting 6-8% of Crotalinae cases. Hematologic effects of envenomation do seem to vary by geographic areas in the United States and physicians would benefit from local data to better manage these patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

An Ultrastructural Comparison of Hepatocytes from ADH+ and ADH−Peromyscus Maniculatus

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 30-31
Author(s):  
J. T. Ellzey ◽  
D. Borunda ◽  
B. P. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Model System ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
En Bloc ◽  
Genetic Stock ◽  
Hepes Buffer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Color Scanner

Genetically alcohol deficient deer mice (ADHN/ADHN) (obtained from the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, Univ. of South Carolina) lack hepatic cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase. In order to determine if these deer mice would provide a model system for an ultrastructural study of the effects of ethanol on hepatocyte organelles, 75 micrographs of ADH+ adult male deer mice (n=5) were compared with 75 micrographs of ADH− adult male deer mice (n=5). A morphometric analysis of mitochondrial and peroxisomal parameters was undertaken.The livers were perfused with 0.1M HEPES buffer followed by 0.25% glutaraldehyde and 2% sucrose in 0.1M HEPES buffer (4C), removed, weighed and fixed by immersion in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M HEPES buffer, pH 7.4, followed by a 3,3’ diaminobenzidine (DAB) incubation, postfixation with 2% OsO4, en bloc staining with 1% uranyl acetate in 0.025M maleate-NaOH buffer, dehydrated, embedded in Poly/Bed 812-BDMA epon resin, sectioned and poststained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Photographs were taken on a Zeiss EM-10 transmission electron microscope, scanned with a Howtek personal color scanner, analyzed with OPTIMAS 4.02 software on a Gateway2000 4DX2-66V personal computer and stored in Excel 4.0.

Use of the AMA Guides in State Workers' Compensation Systems: 2009 Update

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-16
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Brigham ◽  
Jenny Walker
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
South Dakota ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Fourth Edition ◽  
Sixth Edition ◽  
Specific Guideline ◽  
Compensation Systems

Abstract The AMAGuides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) is the most widely used basis for determining impairment and is used in state workers’ compensation systems, federal systems, automobile casualty, and personal injury, as well as by the majority of state workers’ compensation jurisdictions. Two tables summarize the edition of the AMA Guides used and provide information by state. The fifth edition (2000) is the most commonly used edition: California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington. Eleven states use the sixth edition (2007): Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Eight states still commonly make use of the fourth edition (1993): Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia. Two states use the Third Edition, Revised (1990): Colorado and Oregon. Connecticut does not stipulate which edition of the AMA Guides to use. Six states use their own state specific guidelines (Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin), and six states do not specify a specific guideline (Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Virginia). Statutes may or may not specify which edition of the AMA Guides to use. Some states use their own guidelines for specific problems and use the Guides for other issues.

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