Many-banded krait

Many-banded krait

The Many-banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus) is the most venomous krait species known based on toxinological studies conducted on mice. The venom of the many-banded krait consists of both pre- and postsynaptic neurotoxins (known as α-bungarotoxins and β-bungarotoxins, among others). Due to poor response to antivenom therapy, mortality rates are very high in cases of envenomation - up to 50% of cases that receive antivenom are fatal. Case fatality rates of the many-banded krait envenoming reach up to 77%–100% without treatment. The average venom yield from specimens kept on snake farms was between 4.6—18.4 mg per bite. In another study, the average venom yield was 11 mg (Sawai, 1976). The venom is possibly the most toxic of any Bungarus (krait) species and possibly the most toxic of any snake species in Asia, with LD₅₀ values of 0.09 mg/kg—0.108 mg/kg SC, 0.113 mg/kg IV and 0.08 mg/kg IP on mice. Based on several LD₅₀ studies, the many-banded krait is among the most venomous land snake in the world. The Taiwan National Poison Control Center reports that the chief cause of deaths from snakebites during the decade (2002-2012) was respiratory failure, 80% of which was caused by bites from the many-banded krait.