PUNE: In a stunning victory for veterinary medicine, a heavily pregnant Marwari mare has defied the odds to survive a double strike from a Russell’s viper. The 5.5-year-old mare, from Junnar taluka, required an unusually high dose of 60 vials of antivenom to neutralise the lethal toxins.The life-saving effort was spearheaded by toxinologist Dr Sadanand Dagadu Raut of Vighnahar Nursing Home (Narayangaon), alongside Dr Phiroz Khambatta of Raintree Veterinary Clinic (Pune), Dr Pallavi Raut, and Dr Sandesh Raut. The researchers have published the details in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, claiming this is the first documented case of its kind globally.The mare was bitten twice on the muzzle while feeding on Nov 24, 2025. Based on its distinct head pattern and behaviour, local rescuers identified the snake as Daboia russelii, commonly known as the Russell’s viper—one of the country’s most venomous snakes.Within two and a half hours of the bites, the mare developed severe facial and neck swelling, laboured breathing, and blood-tinged salivation. Doctors initially administered 30 vials of equine polyvalent antivenom, 25 litres of intravenous fluids, steroids, and oxygen support. As her condition became critical, she was moved to a veterinary referral facility in Pune for intensive monitoring.Medical experts attributed the need for such an unusually high dose to the location of the bites. “It was a severe envenomation on the muzzle, which led to the formation of ‘venom depots,’” said lead author Dr Raut.A venom depot occurs when a large amount of venom is trapped in swollen tissue and continues to leak into the bloodstream over several days. This caused the mare’s blood-clotting ability to fail repeatedly, a condition known as venom-induced consumption coagulopathy. Even after initial treatment appeared successful, blood tests showed the coagulopathy returning as more venom leaked from the facial tissues.To counter this, doctors administered three additional rounds of antivenom (10 vials each), bringing the total to 60 vials—a quantity far exceeding typical veterinary protocols.The intensive treatment worked. By the fifth day, the mare’s haemoglobin levels began to recover; by the eighth day, the swelling had fully resolved and her blood parameters returned to normal. Critically, fetal heart sounds remained stable throughout the ordeal.Dr Raut confirmed that the mare went on to deliver a healthy foal roughly two months later, completing her 11-month gestation period with no further complications.The researchers said Junnar’s agricultural landscape and monsoon climate create a high-risk environment for Russell’s viper encounters. Rising temperatures and seasonal rains influence rodent population, which in turn draw snakes into close contact with humans and livestock.The publication of this case comes on the eve of World Snake Day (July 16), an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about the world’s 3,500 snake species.
