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Venom Collection from Spiders and Snakes: Voluntary and Involuntary Extractions (“Milking”) and Venom Gland Extractions

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Book cover Snake and Spider Toxins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2068))

Abstract

Venom collection (often called “milking”) provides the toxic secretions essential for studying animal venoms and/or generating venom products. Methods of venom collection vary widely, falling into three broad categories: voluntary venom extraction (inducing the animal to willingly release its venom), involuntary venom extraction (glandular massage, electrical stimulation, or administration of induction chemicals to promote venom expulsion), and venom gland extraction (surgical aspiration or trituration of homogenized gland tissue). Choice of method requires consideration of animal species, animal welfare, human safety (avoiding envenomation), venom yield and composition desired, and level of toxin purity required. Here, we summarize the materials and methods used to obtain venom by each of these approaches from spiders and snakes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92350, USA

    William K. Hayes & Gerad A. Fox

  2. Department of Biology, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN, 37315, USA

    David R. Nelsen

Authors
  1. William K. Hayes
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  2. Gerad A. Fox
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  3. David R. Nelsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William K. Hayes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Avi Priel

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Hayes, W.K., Fox, G.A., Nelsen, D.R. (2020). Venom Collection from Spiders and Snakes: Voluntary and Involuntary Extractions (“Milking”) and Venom Gland Extractions. In: Priel, A. (eds) Snake and Spider Toxins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2068. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9845-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9845-6_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9844-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9845-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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