- Joined
- Sep 26, 2005
- Messages
- 152
The man you're thinking of is Bill Haast. He runs the sepentarium in FL, has since the dark ages =)
There hasn't been enough study on venom allergy and the potential to develope it through injections anyone to give a definitive answer. It is, however, well documented that inhaling small amounts of dried venom over time can put you at a high risk for allergy, even to species you've never been in contact with. BGF is the perfect case in point. Though I doubt any of us will ever have the kind of exposure he has.
Does anyone else remember this from the late 90's?
There was a hot keeper in the States who spent several years doing self injections, though I'd rather not mention him by name at this juncture as it was a huge spot of controvery years ago.
Anyway, he was injecting himself with Naja n. k. venom for some time in the hopes of building an immunity. Once he believed he had achieved the desired results, he let one of his specimines bite him. (Boggles the mind!) There was no reaction to the first bite, rinse and repeat. On the third attempt he managed a huge envenomation from another of his kaouthia and promptly hit the floor. Antivenin had to be administered. Here's the kicker: the introduction of the antivenin into his system completely destroyed all resistance he had managed to build up. Resistance is really a better word than immunity, but I digress.
As a way to safeguard yourself against envenomations, it's at best impractical. More likely, it would be fatal.
Allergies to the protiens in venoms are not the same as allergies to mammal dander. I don't believe anyone has ever died of anaphylaxis from petting fluffy one too many times, though I imagine many have wished for death to stop all the itchy eye, sneezing mess =D
There hasn't been enough study on venom allergy and the potential to develope it through injections anyone to give a definitive answer. It is, however, well documented that inhaling small amounts of dried venom over time can put you at a high risk for allergy, even to species you've never been in contact with. BGF is the perfect case in point. Though I doubt any of us will ever have the kind of exposure he has.
Does anyone else remember this from the late 90's?
There was a hot keeper in the States who spent several years doing self injections, though I'd rather not mention him by name at this juncture as it was a huge spot of controvery years ago.
Anyway, he was injecting himself with Naja n. k. venom for some time in the hopes of building an immunity. Once he believed he had achieved the desired results, he let one of his specimines bite him. (Boggles the mind!) There was no reaction to the first bite, rinse and repeat. On the third attempt he managed a huge envenomation from another of his kaouthia and promptly hit the floor. Antivenin had to be administered. Here's the kicker: the introduction of the antivenin into his system completely destroyed all resistance he had managed to build up. Resistance is really a better word than immunity, but I digress.
As a way to safeguard yourself against envenomations, it's at best impractical. More likely, it would be fatal.
Allergies to the protiens in venoms are not the same as allergies to mammal dander. I don't believe anyone has ever died of anaphylaxis from petting fluffy one too many times, though I imagine many have wished for death to stop all the itchy eye, sneezing mess =D