Confirm and authentic identification of species is required for the implementation of wildlife laws in cases of illegal trafficking of snake venoms. Illegally trafficked snake venom might be misidentified with other drugs of abuse, and sometimes, the species of venom-yielding snake cannot be verified. Snake venoms from medically important snake species, Naja naja and Daboia russelii, were procured from Irula Snake Catcher’s Society, Tamil Nadu, India. Comparative analyses of both venoms were carried out using SDS-PAGE, LC-MS/MS, ICP-MS, and mtDNA analysis. The protein concentration of Naja naja and Daboia russelii venoms was 76.1% and 83.9%, respectively. SDS analysis showed a distinct banding pattern of both venoms. LC-MS/MS results showed proteins and toxins from 12 to 14 protein families in Naja naja and Daboia russelii venoms. Elemental analysis using ICP-MS showed a different profile of some elements in both venoms. mtDNA analysis of venoms using universal primers against Cyt b gene showed homology with sequence of Naja naja and Daboia russelii genes. The study proposed a template of various conventional and advanced molecular and instrumental techniques with their pros and cons. The template can be used by forensic science laboratories for detection, screening, and confirmatory analysis of suspected venoms of snakes. Clubbing of various techniques can be used to confirm the identification of species of snake from which the alleged venom was milked. The results can be helpful in framing charge-sheets against accused of illegal venom trafficking and can also be used to verify the purity and quality of commercially available snake venoms.

中文翻译：

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用于促进野生动物取证的比较蛇毒分析：一项试点研究

在非法贩运蛇毒的情况下，实施野生动物法律需要对物种进行确认和真实鉴定。非法贩运的蛇毒可能会被误认为是其他滥用药物，有时无法验证产生毒液的蛇的种类。来自医学上重要的蛇种Naja naja和Daboia russelii的蛇毒是从印度泰米尔纳德邦的 Irula Snake Catcher's Society 采购的。使用 SDS-PAGE、LC-MS/MS、ICP-MS 和 mtDNA 分析对两种毒液进行比较分析。Naja naja和Daboia russelii的蛋白质浓度毒液分别为 76.1% 和 83.9%。SDS 分析显示两种毒液的明显条带模式。LC-MS/MS 结果显示眼镜蛇蛇毒和鲁氏大布亚蛇毒中有 12 到 14 个蛋白质家族的蛋白质和毒素。使用 ICP-MS 进行的元素分析显示两种毒液中某些元素的分布不同。使用针对Cyt b基因的通用引物对毒液的 mtDNA 分析显示与Naja naja和Daboia russelii的序列同源基因。该研究提出了各种常规和先进分子和仪器技术及其优缺点的模板。该模板可供法医科学实验室用于检测、筛选和验证性分析可疑的蛇毒。各种技术的棍棒可用于确认从所谓的毒液被挤奶的蛇种类的鉴定。该结果有助于制定针对非法毒液贩运的指控，也可用于验证市售蛇毒的纯度和质量。