Background: Snakebite envenomation affects millions of people worldwide annually, resulting in significant mortality. Based on climatic and geographical conditions, Iran has a wide fauna and distribution of various snake species.
Objectives: Due to changing climatic conditions, displacement of some snake species, and reports of snakebites with symptoms different from those known in Iran, this research was conducted to identify this species in the southeastern region of the Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
Methods: New snake species were collected from these areas after morphological characterization and venom milking. Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profile, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatography of venom, determination of toxicity, and cross-neutralization with the Razi Hexavalent snake antivenom (RHAV) were investigated.
Results: Based on morphological characteristics, the samples were identified as kraits of the Bungarus sindanus (Boulenger, 1897). The SDS-PAGE profiles of B. sindanus venom showed multiple bands at 30 kDa and 60–97 kDa. The median intravenous lethal dose (LD50) of B. sindanus was 0.2 µg/mouse (0.01 µg/g). In vivo cross-neutralization tests did not show an adequate effect of commercial antivenom on the venom’s clinical performance.
Conclusion: The present study is the first report of a new distribution, bite report, and toxicological and cross-neutralization of B. sindanus in southeast Iran, addressing a critical public health concern by examining the emergence of previously unidentified snake species in Iran. The outcomes of this study may have significant implications for understanding the impact of climate change on snake distribution and venom composition, ultimately improving preparedness for snakebite treatment in affected areas.