Venom
The venom of the black mamba is extremely potent. It
consists of proteins that are relatively low in their molecular
weight which allows the venom to spread particularly quickly
through the infected tissues compared to other snake species.
Black mamba venom is made up of many types of dendrotoxins, many
of which are cardotoxins, which affect the heart, neurotoxins,
which affect nervous tissue, fasciculins, which affect muscles
and their involuntary movements, and calciseptine, which blocks
calcium ion channels in human cells (read more about this in a
study by clicking
here).
These dendrotoxins mainly
function to block potassium and calcium channels which are vital
to muscle contraction. With the ion channels are blocked, muscles
become paralyzed. The lethal dose of black mamba venom is
anywhere from 10- 15 mg, while the snake will inject an average
of 100- 200 mg in a single bite. A black mamba has even been
caught on camera taking down a 7,500 pound elephant with a
single bite. The venom is incredibly powerful, the death rate
of a bite is 100% without anti venom. Death following injection
will occur within 3 hours unless medical assistance is reached.
Symptoms that will occur if bitten by a Black Mamba include:
• Vertigo, or dizziness and the perception of motion
• Drowsiness
• Aphasia (inability to speak)
• Opthalmoplegia (paralysis of the eyes)
• Muscle twitching
• Abnormally fast heartbeat
• Shock
• Decreased blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Respiratory paralysis
Photo Courtesy of kibuyu,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidbygott/4151596165/in/photostream/
In most cases, suffocation will be the cause of death due to
paralysis of the respiratory muscles making it impossible for
the the victim to breathe. Even if treated with anti venom, if
it is delayed, paralysis of the limbs can occur. The black
mamba is notorious for its venomous bite and is one of the
deadliest, if not the deadliest, snake in the world because of
it. The black mamba’s venom is not completely catastrophic
however. In a recent study published in Nature magazine, the
venom of the deadly snake was shown to possess pain- relieving
capabilities. The venom does this by blocking acid- sensing ion
channels (ASIC’s). More specifically, it is peptides in the
venom called mambalgins that block the ASIC’s. ASIC’s have been
shown to be a major player in the sensation of pain in the human
body. Other snake venoms have been show to activate these
ASIC’s which in turn causes pain. Surprisingly, mambalgins have
shown the opposite effect. These mambalgins have been compared
to morphine in their pain relieving power, yet they have more
benefits, mainly causing less respiratory complications. The
previously terrifying venom of the black mamba now has
potentially very powerful therapeutic applications. To
learn more about another extremely venomous animal, click
here.
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