Hemotoxin

Hemotoxin

Hemotoxins, haemotoxins or hematotoxins are toxins that destroy red blood cells (that is, cause hemolysis), disrupt blood clotting, and/or cause organ degeneration and generalized tissue damage. The term "hemotoxin" is to some degree a misnomer since toxins that damage the blood also damage other tissues. Injury from a hemotoxic agent is often very painful and can cause permanent damage. Loss of an affected limb is possible even with prompt treatment.

Hemotoxins are frequently employed by venomous animals, including pit vipers. Animal venoms contain enzymes and other proteins that are hemotoxic or neurotoxic or occasionally both (as in the Mojave Rattlesnake and similar species). In addition to killing the prey, part of the function of a hemotoxic venom for some animals is to aid digestion.Fact|date=February 2007 The venom breaks down protein in the region of the bite, making prey easier to digest.Fact|date=February 2007

The process by which a hemotoxin causes death is much slower than that of a neurotoxin. Snakes which envenomate a prey animal may have to track the prey as it flees. Typically, a mammalian prey item will stop fleeing not because of death, but due to shock caused by the venomous bite. Dependent upon species, size, location of bite and the amount of venom injected, symptoms in humans such as nausea, disorientation, and headache may be delayed for several hours.

Hemotoxins are used in diagnostic studies of the coagulation system. Lupus anticoagulans is detected by changes in the dilute Russell's viper venom time (DRVVT), which is a laboratory assay based on—as its name indicates—venom of the Russell's viper.

External links

* [http://www.unco.edu/nhs/biology/faculty_staff/mackessy/toxinology.pdf Introduction to the special edition of "Journal of Toxicology - Toxin Reviews", 21(1 & 2), vii-xi (2002)] .


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  • hemotoxin — [hē′mō täk΄sin] n. a toxin capable of destroying erythrocytes hemotoxic adj …   English World dictionary

  • Hemotoxin — hemotoksinai statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Biologinės kilmės medžiagos, ardančios eritrocitus (pvz., kai kurie fermentai, gyvačių nuodai). atitikmenys: angl. hemotoxin vok. Hemotoxin, n rus. гемотоксин, m …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • hemotoxin — hemotoksinai statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Biologinės kilmės medžiagos, ardančios eritrocitus (pvz., kai kurie fermentai, gyvačių nuodai). atitikmenys: angl. hemotoxin vok. Hemotoxin, n rus. гемотоксин, m …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • hemotoxin — hemotoxic, adj. /hee meuh tok sin, hem euh /, n. a toxin, as cobra venom, that causes a hemolytic reaction. [HEMO + TOXIN] * * * …   Universalium

  • hemotoxin — noun Any toxin that destroys red blood cells …   Wiktionary

  • hemotoxin — Any substance that causes destruction of red blood cells, including various hemolysins; usually used with reference to substances of biologic origin, in contrast to chemicals. SYN: hematotoxin, hematoxin. cobra h. the constituent in cobra venom… …   Medical dictionary

  • hemotoxin — n. toxin which causes the destruction of blood cells …   English contemporary dictionary

  • hemotoxin — he·mo·toxin …   English syllables

  • hemotoxin — “+ noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary hem + toxin : hemolysin * * * hemotoxic, adj. /hee meuh tok sin, hem euh /, n. a toxin, as cobra venom, that causes a hemolytic reaction. [HEMO + TOXIN] …   Useful english dictionary

  • cobra hemotoxin — the constituent of cobra venom that can lyse red blood cells without the presence of blood serum …   Medical dictionary

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