New DNA Test May Reveal What Snake Bit a Victim

Scientists may have found a way to identify exactly what type of snake has bitten a victim. They've developed a DNA test that could save lives in countries where snakebites can be deadly.

When it comes to treating a victim of a snakebite, knowing exactly what kind of snake did the biting is crucial. You need to know what species of snake bit the patient in order to properly treat them.

In order to develop a new method to identify what snake bit a victim, the researchers collected 194 DNA samples from bite sites on snakebite victims in Nepal. In 21 cases, the patients brought the dead snake that had bitten them to the treatment center, so that the researchers could verify the source of the bite, according to LiveScience.

The researchers then used these DNA samples in order to help identify snake DNA from fang marks on victims. In fact, the researchers discovered that the species of snake could be pinpointed every time, according to HealthDay.

"Most people are unaware that snakebite is a very real and serious threat both to the health and economic vitality of rural communities throughout much of the developing world," said Alan J. Magill, president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, who was not involved in the study, in a statement. "This innovative research may be enabling for the development of a point-of-care test to positively identify biting snakes."

The findings were presented at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's annual meeting in New Orleans.