Eastern Green Mamba - Venom

Venom

The eastern green mamba is a very venomous snake. The venom consists mainly of neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, calcicludine, and fasciculins. The average venom yield per bite is 80 mg according to Engelmann and Obst (1981), while Minton (1974) gives it a range of 60–95 mg (dry weight). The subcutaneous LD₅₀ ranges from 0.40 mg/kg to 3.05 mg/kg depending on different authority figures and estimates. Like all other mamba species, the toxicity of individual specimens within the same species and subspecies can vary greatly based on several factors including geographical region. Local swelling is variable and sometimes absent after mamba bites. However, patients bitten by the eastern green mamba develop swelling of the entire bitten limb and also show mild haemostatic disturbances (Warrell DA; MacKay et al. 1966). The rare cases of local tissue damage usually resulted from bites on the fingers or the use of a tight tourniquet. This species has caused fatalities among bitten humans. The mortality rate of untreated bites is unknown but is thought to be very high.