VENOM-INDUCED LETHALITY: A REVIEW OF THE FORENSIC APPROACH

Abstract

Death resulting from toxic exposure remains a significant concern in both clinical medicine and forensic science. Envenomation by venomous organisms including snakes, spiders, scorpions, and various marine species, constitutes a major cause of toxin-related mortality worldwide. Venoms produced by these species contain complex mixtures of neurotoxin, hemotoxic, cytotoxic, and organelle destructive substances that can lead to rapid systemic failure and death. The medical and forensic dimensions of deaths caused by envenomation with particular emphasis on forensic diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, and investigative methodologies. It underscores the critical role of timely antivenom administration in improving clinical outcomes and differentiating envenomation related deaths from other causessuch as drug overdose, sharp-force injuries, or homicidal poisoning. Accurate diagnosis is essential to avoid misinterpretation of the cause and manner of death. This review explores the forensic value of muscle tissue analysis including the detection of venom remnants and toxin-related biochemical changes in muscle homogenates, which may enhance the precision of postmortem diagnosis. Integrating the clinical findings, toxicological analysis, and forensic pathology, this multifaceted review highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among the medical practitioners, toxicologists, and forensic experts. Such collaborative strategies are essential for addressing otherwise unexplained deaths associated with surgical wounds, sharp-force trauma, or suspected toxic exposure, and for improving the accuracy of death investigations involving venom and other toxins.