Grego Kathleen Fernandes, Vieira Samira Emanuela Maria, Vidueiros Jarbas Prado, Serapicos Eliana de Oliveira, Barbarini Cibele Cíntia, da Silveira Giovanni Perez Machado, Rodrigues Fabíola de Souza, Alves Lucas de Carvalho Francisco, Stuginski Daniel Rodrigues, Rameh-de-Albuquerque Luciana Carla, Furtado Maria de Fátima Domingues, Tanaka-Azevedo Anita Mitico, de Morais-Zani Karen, da Rocha Marisa Maria Teixeira, Fernandes Wilson, Sant'Anna Sávio Stefanini
Laboratory of Herpetology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2021 Jan 22;27:e20200068. doi: 10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2020-0068. eCollection 2021.
Maintenance of snakes at Butantan Institute started in the last century, intending to produce a different antivenom serum to reduce death caused by snakebites. Through a successful campaign coordinated by Vital Brazil, farmers sent venomous snakes to Butantan Institute by the railway lines with no cost. From 1908 to 1962, the snakes were kept in an outdoor serpentarium, where venom extraction was performed every 15 days. During this period, the snake average survival was 15 days. In 1963, the snakes were transferred to an adapted building, currently called Laboratory of Herpetology (LH), to be maintained in an intensive system. Although the periodicity of venom extraction remained the same, animal average survival increased to two months. With the severe serum crisis in 1983, the Ministry of Health financed remodeling for the three public antivenom producers, and with this support, the LH could be improved. Air conditioning and exhausting systems were installed in the rooms, besides the settlement of critical hygienic-sanitary managements to increase the welfare of snakes. In the early 1990s, snake survival was ten months. Over the years to the present day, several improvements have been made in the intensive serpentarium, as the establishment of two quarantines, feeding with thawed rodents, an interval of two months between venom extraction routines, and monitoring of snake health through laboratory tests. With these new protocols, average snake survival increased significantly, being eight years for the genus , ten years for genus and and four years for the genus . Aiming the production of venoms of good quality, respect for good management practices is essential for the maintenance of snakes in captivity. New techniques and efficient management must always be sought to improve animal welfare, the quality of the venom produced, and the safety of those working directly with the venomous snakes.
布坦坦研究所对蛇类的饲养始于上世纪，旨在生产不同的抗蛇毒血清以减少蛇咬致死情况。通过由维塔尔·巴西协调的一项成功行动，农民们免费通过铁路线将毒蛇送往布坦坦研究所。从1908年到1962年，蛇被饲养在室外蛇馆，每15天进行一次毒液提取。在此期间，蛇的平均存活时间为15天。1963年，蛇被转移到一座经过改造的建筑中，即目前的爬虫学实验室（LH），采用集约化系统饲养。尽管毒液提取周期保持不变，但动物的平均存活时间增加到了两个月。1983年发生严重血清危机时，卫生部为三家公立抗蛇毒血清生产商提供资金进行改造，在这种支持下，LH得以改善。除了落实关键的卫生管理措施以提高蛇的福利外，还在房间里安装了空调和排气系统。在20世纪90年代初，蛇的存活时间为十个月。多年来直至如今，集约化蛇馆进行了多项改进，如设立两个隔离区、用解冻的啮齿动物喂食、毒液提取程序之间间隔两个月，以及通过实验室检测监测蛇的健康状况。有了这些新方案，蛇的平均存活时间显著增加， 属的蛇平均存活八年， 属和 属的蛇平均存活十年， 属的蛇平均存活四年。为了生产高质量的毒液，在圈养蛇时遵守良好管理规范至关重要。必须始终寻求新技术和高效管理方法，以改善动物福利、所生产毒液的质量以及直接与毒蛇打交道人员的安全。
