Australian Brown Snakes www.toxinology.com

Genus Pseudonaja

This is a brief overview of information on Australian brown snakes, based on information on the main Clinical Toxinology Resources Website. For more detail and up-to-date information on brown snakes, covered at species level, visit www.toxinology.com and search for "snakebite" in the First Aid menu, or search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the Genus field. The information on this page will not be regularly updated, because regular updated information can be obtained from the main toxinology website, listed above.

Taxonomy of brown snakes

Species listing for brown snakes:

Eastern brown snake, common brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis

Western brown snake, gwardar, Pseudonaja nuchalis

Dugite, Pseudonaja affinis

Peninsular brown snake, Pseudonaja inframacula

Ingram's brown snake, Pseudonaja ingrami

Spotted brown snake, Pseudonaja guttata

Ringed brown snake, Pseudonaja modesta

For more detailed information on brown snakes, including distribution maps and photos, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the Genus field.

Distribution of brown snakes

Brown snakes are highly venomous and are found in mainland Australia, but not on most offshore islands, nor in Tasmania. The eastern brown snake is found also in New Guinea, where it may represent an accidental introduction.

Venom of brown snakes

As with other venomous snakes causing snakebite in humans, brown snakes have complex venoms with many components. Only the most important clinically are mentioned here.

Overall brown snake venom is one of the most potent of all known snake venoms.

Brown snake venom contains potent presynaptic neurotoxins (toxins in venom that cause paralysis or muscle weakness). Also present are postsynaptic neurotoxins, which are less potent but more rapid acting than the presynaptic neurotoxins.

Brown snake venom also contains potent procoagulants (toxins in venom that interfere with blood clotting, causing consumption of the clotting protein, fibrinogen; this causes defibrination, with non-clottable blood, putting victims at risk of major bleeding). Brown snake procoagulants are amongst the most powerful snake venom procoagulants known.

No renal (kidney) toxins have so far been isolated from brown snake venoms, but renal failure (kidney failure) is a common effect of brown snake snakebites in humans, in cases where there is significant envenoming (envenomation).

Brown snake venom does not contain myotoxins that cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage).

Brown snake venom does not cause significant local effects at the snakebite site and does not contain necrotoxins.

For more up-to-date information on brown snakes use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the Genus field.

Clinical effects of brown snake bites

Brown snakes have highly potent venom and can cause severe envenoming (envenomation) of humans. They are the leading cause of snakebites and snakebite deaths in Australia at present. Envenoming (envenomation) can cause defibrination coagulopathy, renal (kidney) damage or renal failure (kidney failure). Though they can cause neurotoxic paralysis (muscle weakness, respiratory failure), this is uncommon to rare in humans, but common in domestic animals (cats, dogs). Bites do not cause myolysis (rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage).

For more and up-to-date information on brown snake bite use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the Genus field.

First aid treatment

First aid for brown snake bite is the same as for other snakebites and is based on immobilising the venom at the bite site until medical treatment can be obtained. This snakebite first aid is commonly known as the pressure immobilisation bandage technique for snakebite and other forms of envenoming (envenomation).

For details of the method, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for "snakebite" in the First Aid menu, or search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the Genus field.

Medical treatment of brown snake bite

Only about 20% of brown snake bites result in significant envenoming, requiring antivenom therapy, but for this minority of cases, envenoming is often severe and potentially lethal. There are usually at least 1-2 deaths from brown snake bite every year. It is therefore essential all cases be managed as an emergency, requiring rapid application of first aid and urgent medical assessment. For those cases with systemic envenoming, which may develop in less than 15 minutes after the bite, antivenom therapy is the principle treatment. In most such cases 4+ vials of CSL Brown Snake Antivenom will be required intravenously to reverse the severe coagulopathy (bleeding disorder).

For further overview information, use the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website at www.toxinology.com and search for specific information on brown snakes in the Snakes - Search menu, using either "brown snake" in the common name field or select "Pseudonaja" in the genus field. Treatment information and available antivenoms will be listed near the bottom of the page. A general overview of snakebite treatment is also available.

For detailed information on medical treatment on the Clinical Toxinology Resources Website you need to access the subscriber-only area, but substantial information, including appropriate antivenoms and how to use them, (not as detailed as for subscribers) is also available in the online version of the CSL Antivenom Handbook, also available on this site.