Forest cobra

Abstract: Snake venoms are widely studied in terms of their systemic toxicity and proteolytic, hemotoxic, neurotoxic, and cytotoxic activities. However, little is known about snake-venom-mediated effects when used at low, noncytotoxic concentrations. In the current study, two human fibroblast cell lines of different origin, namely WI-38 fetal lung fibroblasts and BJ foreskin fibroblasts were used to investigate snake-venom-induced adaptive response at a relatively noncytotoxic concentration (0.01 µg/ml). The venoms of Indochinese spitting cobra ( Naja siamensis), western green mamba ( Dendroaspis viridis), forest cobra ( Naja melanoleuca), and southern copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix) were considered. Snake venoms promoted FOXO3a-mediated oxidative stress response and to a lesser extent DNA damage response, which lead to changes in cell cycle regulators both at messenger RNA and protein levels, limited cell proliferation and migration, and induced cellular senescence. Taken together, we have shown for the first time that selected snake venoms may also exert adverse effects when used at relatively noncytotoxic concentrations.

Abstract: A preliminary analysis of the distribution of snakes captured in Cameroon between 1999 and 2004 is presented in this study. This work helps to provide a better understanding of the distribution of the venomous snakes. The main focus of this study was to identify regions of high diversity of venomous species, a useful step towards developing a national strategy of snakebite care and antivenom distribution. We recorded 4,910 specimens of 150 species from 361 localities throughout Cameroon. Among the ten provinces in Cameroon, the southwest province recorded the highest number of venomous snakes. Diversity was less in the far-north province, but the high abundance of Echis ocellatus seems to be responsible for many snake bites in the region. Of all venomous snakes, the forest cobra Naja melanoleuca was the most abundant in the forest region. The humid savannah region was dominated by Causus maculatus while the Sahelian part by Echis ocellatus. Given the abundance and high snake bite cases of the latter in the region, snakebite care from a national point of view should begin from the far-north towards the forest region of the south-west Cameroon.

Abstract: (1968). AN EXCEPTIONAL FOREST COBRA FROM RHODESIA. The Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 30-30.