District One Office of the Medical Examiner, Pensacola, Florida, USA.
Center for Environmental & Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
J Forensic Sci. 2023 Mar;68(2):711-715. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15213. Epub 2023 Jan 30.
Deaths occurring due to rattlesnake envenomization are extremely rare and must be thoroughly investigated in the same manner as any other type of death. Our research presents the case of an adult white male who suffered a fatal timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) envenomation in northwest Florida in 2018. Blood samples were taken from the decedent's heart and vasculature of the chest and sent for serum proteomic analysis. Serum proteomic analysis was utilized in order to identify proteins from timber rattlesnake (C. horridus) found within the victim's blood. The confirmation of the presence of timber rattlesnake venom within the victim's blood allows the forensic pathologist to determine the cause of death most accurately and likewise, assists with the manner of death determination. Blood samples were separated into two groups: one with the abundant endogenous proteins depleted to facilitate detection of lower abundant proteins and one undepleted. In the depleted sample, a total of 712 proteins were identified, with 47 of the proteins (6.6%) occurring originating from timber rattlesnake (C. horridus). Likewise, a total of 742 proteins were identified in the undepleted sample, with 52 of the proteins (7.0%) occurring in timber rattlesnake (C. horridus). No timber rattlesnake (C. horridus) proteins were found in control human serum.
死于响尾蛇咬伤的情况极为罕见，必须像调查任何其他类型的死亡一样，对其进行彻底调查。我们的研究介绍了 2018 年在佛罗里达州西北部发生的一起成年白人男子被响尾蛇（Crotalus horridus）致命咬伤的案例。从死者的心脏和胸部血管采集血样，并进行血清蛋白质组分析。利用血清蛋白质组分析来鉴定受害者血液中发现的响尾蛇（C. horridus）的蛋白质。确认受害者血液中存在响尾蛇毒液可使法医病理学家最准确地确定死因，同样也有助于确定死亡方式。血样分为两组：一组去除丰富的内源性蛋白质以利于检测低丰度蛋白质，另一组未去除。在耗尽组中，共鉴定出 712 种蛋白质，其中 47 种蛋白质（6.6％）来源于响尾蛇（C. horridus）。同样，在未耗尽组中，共鉴定出 742 种蛋白质，其中 52 种蛋白质（7.0％）来源于响尾蛇（C. horridus）。在对照人血清中未发现响尾蛇（C. horridus）蛋白质。
