07/31/2012
Prescott, AZ (July 31th, 2012): Six veterinarians attended Venom Week 2012 in Honolulu, Hawaii in July to present research topics on antivenoms, antitoxins, and venom diagnostic assays. This was the first time a veterinary track was held at Venom Week, and was chaired by Karen Seibold DVM, MS, DACVECC (Animal Urgent Care, Escondido, California). Presentations were given by Raegan Wells DVM, MS, DACVECC, Craig Woods DVM, MS, MBA, Michael Peterson DVM, MS, Lyndi Gilliam DVM, DACVIM, and Mayrim Perez DVM, resident. The presenting veterinarians provided the audience with diverse backgrounds, ranging from academia, private practice and industry.
Dr. Wells (Emergency Animal Clinic in Phoenix, AZ) presented work on rattlesnake venom levels in dogs before and after F(ab’)2 antivenom administration. Dr. Woods (BioVeteria) presented research on a new F(ab’)2 antivenom for dogs and a new endotoxin antitoxin from saliva. Dr. Gilliam (Oklahoma State University) presented research on venom levels detection in horses after rattlesnake bites. Dr. Perez (University of Florida) presented a retrospective review of coral snake envenomation in dogs and cats. Dr. Peterson (Reid Veterinary Hospital in Oregon) presented research on a Fab antivenom study in dogs. The veterinary abstracts were published in Toxicon: 17th World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology & Venom Week 2012, 4th International Scientific Symposium on All Things Venomous, Volume 60, Issue 2 (2012).
Venom Week is an international conference held every 2-3 years and focuses on developing solutions for the medical and economic impact of envenomation from snakes, spiders, scorpions, and all things venomous. The audience was comprised of several hundred physicians and researchers from around the world. Presentation topics included those on various scorpions, snakes, spiders, and even drugs being developed from venoms.
