Snake venom

Brown Snake

Brown snake venom contains potent toxins in venom that cause paralysis or muscle weakness. Also present are postsynaptic neurotoxins, which are less potent but more rapid acting than the presynaptic neurotoxins. Brown snake venom also contains potent toxins in venom that interfere with blood clotting, causing consumption of the clotting protein putting victims at risk of major bleeding. Brown snake procoagulants are amongst the most powerful snake venom procoagulants known. No kidney toxins have so far been isolated from brown snake venoms, but renal failure (kidney failure) is a common effect of brown snake snakebites in humans, in cases where there is significant envenoming. Brown snake venom does not contain myotoxins that cause muscle damage.

Black Tiger Snake

Tiger snake venom also has the same effects as the Common Brown Snake but it is less potent. Tiger snakes have in their venom presynaptic neurotoxins which cause paralysis.

Red Bellied Black Snake

Red-bellied Black Snake venom consists of neurotoxins, myotoxins, coagulants and also has haemolytic properties. Bites from Red-bellied Black Snakes are rarely life-threatening due to the snake usually choosing to inject little venom toxin, but are still in need of immediate medical attention.

Black Mamba Snake

Its venom is the most rapid-acting venom of any snake species and consists mainly of highly potent neurotoxins causing paralysis or muscle weakness.

Coastal Taipan Snake

There is often pain and swelling at the bite site, though this is not always so and a trivial looking bite site does not imply a trivial bite. There may be rapid development of major systemic envenoming, including headache, nausea/vomiting, collapse, convulsions (especially in children), paralysis, defibrination coagulopathy, myolysis and kidney damage. It causes paralysis because of the neurotoxins in its venom.

Death Adder Snake

The Death Adders snake vemon has neurotoxins which cause paralysis and muscle damage. It also causes kidney failure and major bleeding due to toxins that consume blood clotting protein.

Bibliography

Top 10 Most Venomous Snakes n.d., Ultimate Listverse, Top 10 List, viewed 18 October 2012, http://listverse.com/2011/03/30/top-10-most-venomous-snakes/

Information about the snakes covered by this antivenom n.d., CSL Antivenom Handbook, CSL Brown Snake Antivenom, viewed 18 October 2012, http://www.toxinology.com/generic_static_files/cslavh_antivenom_brown.html