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Family: Viperidae
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Subfamily: Crotalinae
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Genus: Ovophis
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Species: chaseni
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Common Names
Chasen's Pit Viper , Kinabalu Brown Pit Viper , Chasen's Mountain Pit Viper , Mount Kinabalu Pit Viper
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Region
Southeast Asia
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Countries
Malaysia
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Taxonomy and Biology
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Adult Length: 0.40 m
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General Shape
Small in length, stout bodied snake, with a short ( non-prehensile ) blunt tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 0.65 metres. Head is large, flat, triangular shaped, and distinct from neck. Snout is blunt. Eyes are small in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Head dorsum scales are feebly keeled. Median dorsal scale rows are strongly keeled anteriorly and feebly keeled posteriorly. Dorsal scale count 19 - ( 17 or 19 ) - 15.
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Habitat
Found only at the base of Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah ( elevations of about 900 to 1450 metres ) in tropical mountain forest terrain and spotted in the Kampong Tagadon region ( Crocker Range ).
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Habits
Terrestrial and mainly nocturnal snake.
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Prey
Feeds mainly on rodents, lizards, small mammals and insectivores.
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Venom
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General: Venom Neurotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Myotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Procoagulants
Mixture of procoagulants
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General: Venom Anticoagulants
Possibly present
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General: Venom Haemorrhagins
Possibly present
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General: Venom Nephrotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Cardiotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Necrotoxins
Probably not present
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General: Venom Other
Unknown
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Clinical Effects
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General: Dangerousness
Unknown, but potentially lethal envenoming, though unlikely, cannot be excluded.
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General: Rate of Envenoming: Unknown but likely to be moderate
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General: Untreated Lethality Rate: Unknown but lethal potential cannot be excluded
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General: Local Effects
Insufficient clinical reports to know, but possibly marked local effects; pain, severe swelling, bruising, but probably not necrosis
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General: Local Necrosis
Does not occur, based on current clinical evidence
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General: General Systemic Effects
Variable non-specific effects which may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness, collapse or convulsions
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General: Neurotoxic Paralysis
Unlikely to occur
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General: Myotoxicity
Not likely to occur
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General: Coagulopathy & Haemorrhages
No reports of coagulopathy, though related species can cause bleeding problems
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General: Renal Damage
Insufficient clinical reports to know
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General: Cardiotoxicity
Unlikely to occur
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General: Other
Shock secondary to fluid shifts due to local tissue injury is possible in severe cases
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First Aid
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Description: First aid for bites by Viperid snakes likely to cause significant local injury at the bite site (see listing in Comments section).
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Details
1. After ensuring the patient and onlookers have moved out of range of further strikes by the snake, the bitten person should be reassured and persuaded to lie down and remain still. Many will be terrified, fearing sudden death and, in this mood, they may behave irrationally or even hysterically. The basis for reassurance is the fact that many venomous bites do not result in envenoming, the relatively slow progression to severe envenoming (hours following elapid bites, days following viper bites) and the effectiveness of modern medical treatment.
2. The bite wound should not be tampered with in any way. Wiping it once with a damp cloth to remove surface venom is unlikely to do much harm (or good) but the wound must not be massaged.
3. All rings or other jewellery on the bitten limb, especially on fingers, should be removed, as they may act as tourniquets if oedema develops.
4. The bitten limb should be immobilised as effectively as possible using an extemporised splint or sling; if available, crepe bandaging of the splinted limb is an effective form of immobilisation.
5. If there is any impairment of vital functions, such as problems with respiration, airway, circulation, heart function, these must be supported as a priority. In particular, for bites causing flaccid paralysis, including respiratory paralysis, both airway and respiration may be impaired, requiring urgent and prolonged treatment, which may include the mouth to mask (mouth to mouth) technique of expired air transfer. Seek urgent medical attention.
6. Do not use Tourniquets, cut, suck or scarify the wound or apply chemicals or electric shock.
7. Avoid peroral intake, absolutely no alcohol. No sedatives outside hospital. If there will be considerable delay before reaching medical aid, measured in several hours to days, then give clear fluids by mouth to prevent dehydration.
8. If the offending snake has been killed it should be brought with the patient for identification (only relevant in areas where there are more than one naturally occurring venomous snake species), but be careful to avoid touching the head, as even a dead snake can envenom. No attempt should be made to pursue the snake into the undergrowth as this will risk further bites.
9. The snakebite victim should be transported as quickly and as passively as possible to the nearest place where they can be seen by a medically-trained person (health station, dispensary, clinic or hospital). The bitten limb must not be exercised as muscular contraction will promote systemic absorption of venom. If no motor vehicle or boat is available, the patient can be carried on a stretcher or hurdle, on the pillion or crossbar of a bicycle or on someone's back.
10. Most traditional, and many of the more recently fashionable, first aid measures are useless and potentially dangerous. These include local cauterization, incision, excision, amputation, suction by mouth, vacuum pump or syringe, combined incision and suction ("venom-ex" apparatus), injection or instillation of compounds such as potassium permanganate, phenol (carbolic soap) and trypsin, application of electric shocks or ice (cryotherapy), use of traditional herbal, folk and other remedies including the ingestion of emetic plant products and parts of the snake, multiple incisions, tattooing and so on.
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Treatment
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Treatment Summary
Bites by these snakes are not well documented, but probably cause moderate to severe local effects, with shock, but not necrosis, and major coagulopathy. In the absence of specific antivenom, treatment is generally supportive & symptomatic. In severe cases, consider Japanese mamushi antivenom.
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Key Diagnostic Features
Local pain, swelling, blistering, necrosis + coagulopathy, bleeding, shock
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General Approach to Management
All cases should be treated as urgent & potentially lethal. Rapid assessment & commencement of treatment including appropriate antivenom (if indicated & available) is mandatory. Admit all cases.
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Antivenom Therapy
No antivenom available
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