Polyvalent antisnake venom manufactured in India provides protection against venoms of which four medically important species?

• A Naja kaouthia, Ophiophagus hannah, Trimeresurus erythrurus, Echis carinatus
• B Naja naja, Bungarus caeruleus, Daboia russelii, Echis carinatus ✓
• C Naja naja, Bungarus fasciatus, Hydrophis spiralis, Daboia russelii
• D Bungarus caeruleus, Daboia siamensis, Hypnale hypnale, Echis carinatus

Explanation

Indian polyvalent ASV is raised against the 'big four': the Indian cobra (Naja naja), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus), which account for most deaths in the subcontinent. Venomous snakes outside these four, including king cobra, pit vipers, hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale) and sea snakes, are not covered, so envenomation by them may not respond to the standard product.

Reference: Reddy's The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 35th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.