Black snakes (Pseudechis spp) are a genus of venomous Australian elapid snakes that can cause major clinical envenomation in companion animals, which may be fatal, even with appropriate antivenom treatment. Despite its clinical significance, there is little published information on the pathology of black snake envenomation. We report the gross and microscopic lesions associated with black snake envenomation in two dogs, one with a definitive immunological species identification of red-bellied black snake (RBBS; Pseudechis porphyriacus), the other with a black snake immunotype on a venom detection kit. Both dogs were located in a geographical area where the RBBS is found. The prominent gross findings in both cases included icterus, localized facial oedema in the region of the presumed bite wound, pigmenturia and multicavitary serosanguineous effusions. Histopathology of the confirmed RBBS case revealed acute renal tubular necrosis with haemosiderosis, marked splenic haemosiderosis and centrilobular to midzonal hepatocellular necrosis with severe cholestasis. Defining the spectrum of lesions of elapid snake envenomation improves understanding of the pathogenesis, which may lead to improved patient outcomes and post-mortem diagnosis.

黑蛇 ( Pseudechis spp) 是一种有毒的澳大利亚蛇类蛇，可导致伴侣动物严重的临床中毒，即使采用适当的抗蛇毒血清治疗，也可能致命。尽管具有临床意义，但几乎没有关于黑蛇毒液病理学的公开信息。我们报告了两只狗中与黑蛇毒液相关的大体和微观病变，其中一只具有明确的红腹黑蛇（RBBS；Pseudechis porphyriacus)，另一个在毒液检测试剂盒上具有黑蛇免疫型。两只狗都位于发现RBBS的地理区域。在这两个病例中，显着的肉眼发现包括黄疸、推测的咬伤区域的局部面部水肿、色素尿和多腔血清血性渗出液。确诊 RBBS 病例的组织病理学显示急性肾小管坏死伴含铁血黄素沉着症、显着的脾含铁血黄素沉着症和小叶中央至中带肝细胞坏死伴严重胆汁淤积。确定蛇毒蛇毒的病变范围可以提高对发病机制的了解，这可能会改善患者的预后和尸检诊断。