African Spitting Cobra (Naja Nigricollis) Bite of the Hand

Abstract

WM Kuzon, JR Marcus, LD Kerluke, JH Phillips. African spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) bite of the hand. Can J Plast Surg 1994;2(2):90-92. Fifty thousand snakebites occur annually in North America. of these, about 8000 result in envenomation by poisonous species. In North America, 98% of poisonous snakebites are caused by pit vipers (Crotilidae). This report describes a Naja nigricollis (family Elapidae, the African spitting cobra) bite of the hand that occurred in Ontario. This species is common in West Africa and is popular with North American collectors. Its venom is quite different from the venoms of pit vipers and results in significant tissue necrosis. The management of a bite by N nigricollis requires aggressive medical and surgical treatment.