Description of the Histological Features in Wounds of Snake Bite Aetiology

The chronic wounds that develop following snake bites may display a spectrum of histological features that could be correlated with the type of venom injected. The pathological changes may provide useful information for the management of chronic wounds that develop following snake bites. This study intends to assess the histopathological changes seen in chronic wounds following Daboia russelii (Russell’s viper), Hypnale species (Hump nosed viper) and Naja naja (Cobra) bites and wounds of non snake bite aetiology. Inflammatory cells were seen in snake bite and non snake bite wounds. An intense mixed cellular inflammatory cell presence around the vessels could be seen. More lymphocytes and plasma cells were seen in wounds following snake bite and presence of more eosinophils was detected in wounds with other aetiology. Haemorrhagic areas in the dermis were seen in tissue samples taken from Naja naja and Hypnale species bite wounds. Vascular proliferation was predominant in all chronic wounds following snake bite. Granulation tissues were also more in chronic wounds following snake bites than the wounds of other aetiology. Among these three snake bites, haemorrhage was present mainly in Naja naja and Hypnale bite wounds compared to Daboia russelii.