The Aerobic and Anaerobic Flora of Rattlesnake Fangs and Venom

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Abstract
Venom from 100 rattlesnakes and swabs of the fangs of 50 of these snakes were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Agar-dilution antibiotic susceptibilities for 170 of 207 aerobes and disc susceptibilities for 65 of 113 Clostridia were determined. Clostridia were isolated from 48% of venom and 86% of fang specimens. Histotoxic species were found in 50% of the snakes. Ninety- seven strains of gram-positive cocci were isolated, but no coagulase-positive staphylococci. Of 110 strains of gram-negative rods, Aerobacter, Proteus, and Pseudomonas genera were most common. Four salmonella strains were found. All rattlesnake bites are potentially contaminated with Clostridia and a wide variety of aerobic bacteria. Inflammation and necrosis secondary to envenomation provide a favorable setting for proliferation of organisms. The antibiotic susceptibility results reported here provide guidelines for selection of antibacterial therapy.

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