Science

Blood-Curdling (Literally): See How Snake Venom Reacts With Human Blood

Does the mere thought of a snake curdle your blood? There could be a reason for your visceral reaction to snakes. Turns out some snakes venom will literally curdle human blood.

Viral Video Shows Russells Viper Venom Reaction With Human Blood

Harvesting the snake venom. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

A video posted back in April, which at this point has more than 2 million hits on YouTube and at the time got play on many blogs, is making its rounds in the mainstream media more recently. According to the description of the video uploaded by the user “fragrancemad,” research was being conducted for Cobra perfume by Jeannes Arthes and the poster came across this video and couldn’t resist posting it to the video-sharing site:

Basically, a single drop of this venom (from a Russell’s viper) is dripped onto a petri dish of blood, and in seconds the blood clots into a thick chunk of solid matter.

Viral Video Shows Russells Viper Venom Reaction With Human Blood

Dropping venom into the blood sample. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Viral Video Shows Russells Viper Venom Reaction With Human Blood

Clotted blood after only a drop. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Watch the reaction here:

A study from 1961 described that only 0.01 micrograms of venom is needed to clot the blood in the fashion seen in the video above.

The Huffington Post points out Dr. Terence Davidson from the University of California’s San Diego School of Medicine explaining what a bite from such a viper can do.  He writes:

It is a very dangerous snake. Large members of some species can easily deliver a lethal dose in humans. Victims will usually complain of pain at the bite site, and swelling may be evident. Substantial coagulopathy and acute renal failure may ensue. Unique to certain subspecies, there has been reported symptoms indicative of a neurotoxic and myotoxic venom including ptosis, dysarthrias, and generalized weakness. Prompt medical therapy avoids these problems.

These snakes are generally found from India to Taiwan and favor rodent prey, although they will attack humans when put on the defensive. It is considered the most dangerous snake found in Asia.

To learn more specifics on the venom’s clotting mechanism on blood, check out the University of Michigan website here.

Comments (32)

  • Patriot of My America
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 6:35pm

    These remarks about San Francisco are really pretty good, but fill the moat with Tea Party patriots and bayonets this would end the wet back problem.. And just read my Handle…

     
    • caveman74
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 6:47pm

      oh wait…that was venom and blood?!?!?….I thought I was watching what happens when you inject government stimulus into a free market

      Report Post »  
    • Beowulf_Agate
      Posted on July 14, 2012 at 2:05am

      How about us alleviating you of your……?

      Report Post » Beowulf_Agate  
  • countryfirst
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 4:01pm

    What’s even worse is the affect of progressivism & liberalism on brain matter

    Report Post » countryfirst  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:55pm

    Rattlesnake. It‘s what’s for dinner.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
    • Weiners Wiener
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 6:44pm

      You can order rattlesnake meat online. And supposedly, it’s tasty.

      Report Post »  
    • Gumbercules
      Posted on July 14, 2012 at 12:39am

      Was flicking the needle to remove air bubbles from the syringe really necessary in this example?! I mean, come on! Was he planning on shooting up with some after the camera was turned off?

      Report Post » Gumbercules  
  • ronin_6
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:31pm

    Couldn’t this be processed into a coagulant to be used on trauma cases or maybe for hemophiliacs?

    Report Post » ronin_6  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:03pm

    This is your American Blood…..

    This is your American Blood on Socialism…..

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • pap pap
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:10pm

    It’s hard to believe that most people bitten by snakes survive after seeing that.

    Report Post »  
  • TheEDGE
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:09pm

    If ya had to choose one; A bite from a cobra, being struck by lightning, or a one night stand with Frances Fox Piven?

    Report Post » TheEDGE  
    • The-Real-Enrico
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:15pm

      Lightening doesn’t seem so bad.

      Report Post » The-Real-Enrico  
    • AlcoholicMB
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:49pm

      I’ve been struck by lightning, it’s not fun.

      Report Post » AlcoholicMB  
    • AnimalsAsLeaders
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:50pm

      lightning is the quickest and most humane death followed by snake bite.

      Report Post » AnimalsAsLeaders  
    • 00gabooga
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:09pm

      I’ve woken up next to worse than Piven. That’s why I only have one arm!!

      Report Post » 00gabooga  
    • The-Real-Enrico
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 5:39pm

      @AlcoholicMB So have I, not fun. I went color blind for some time after being shocked. I would go through it again over the other two non options.

      Report Post » The-Real-Enrico  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 6:37pm

      Cobra venom is a neurotoxin, so it would be much quicker than a bite from a hemotoxic snake like a rattler.

      Report Post »  
    • Blazeanswerman
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 11:08pm

      Yeah, lightning would be a quick out as opposed to snake bite or Piven which are one in the same really.

      Report Post » Blazeanswerman  
    • busterpuddles
      Posted on July 14, 2012 at 2:06am

      Tough choice!

      Report Post » busterpuddles  
  • huey6367
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:04pm

    Holy crap!! I had no idea that is what happened from a snake bite. No wonder you end up dying.

    Report Post »  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:14pm

      I think pelose,bidden, at some time had been bitten in the brain. Explains a lot of their strange and scary speech and actions. Liberal Politicians snake bitten!!!

      Report Post »  
  • The-Real-Enrico
    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:04pm

    Scary. I can only imagine what it would to the human body. We don’t need a moat with alligators on the boarder. We just need a moat with snakes. Nobody would want to go near it.

    Report Post » The-Real-Enrico  
    • TheEDGE
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:15pm

      Snakes and gators have minds of their own. Let’s fill the moat with that flesh eating bacteria I keep reading about.

      Report Post » TheEDGE  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:24pm

      Reply to THEEDGE:
      Bacteria also has a “mind” of it’s own. Be careful what you wish for.

      Report Post »  
    • TheEDGE
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 1:50pm

      Okay, okay! We’ll fill the moat with something that has absolutely no brain activity whatsoever. We’ll fill it with San Fransicko liberals. The illegals would be smugged to death in no time!

      Report Post » TheEDGE  
    • TheEDGE
      Posted on July 13, 2012 at 2:07pm

      After some pondering I’ve come to realize that the San Fransickos would just fill the moat to the brim with pee allowing the willing Mexicans to simply swim across. We’ll stick with snakes and gators.

      Report Post » TheEDGE  

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