How Horses Save Humans From Snakebites

Summary by Krater

The video visits the Australian Reptile Park to examine how venom is milked from dangerous snakes to produce antivenin, explaining snake venom evolution, fang anatomy, and how antivenin is manufactured using horses.

From the video

Answers: How is snake antivenin made and how does snake venom work?

• snake venom extraction
• antivenin production
• snake fang evolution
• neurotoxic and hemotoxic venom
• Australian reptile park

What it concludes

• About two-thirds of all snakes are rear-fanged.
• Only one-seventh of the world's snakes have hollow fangs, though almost all venomous snakes in Australia have them.
• The Inland Taipan is the most venomous snake in the world, with enough venom in a single bite to kill half a million mice or over 100 humans.
• Snake venoms can contain up to 200 compounds combining neurotoxic, hemotoxic, cytotoxic, and myotoxic proteins.
• Antivenin is produced by injecting a donor animal, such as a horse, with diluted venom and harvesting antibodies from its plasma.