Comparative Protein Fingerprinting of Venoms from common Cobra (Naja naja) and Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) of Central Punjab, Pakistan

The electrophoretic characterization of the venom proteins has emerged as a highly efficient method for taxonomic studies for the venomous snakes belonging to Elapidae and Viperidae families. In Pakistan, most snake venom studies have been conducted regarding the general or intra-specific characteristics of venom of a particular snake species. No comparative study, however, has been undertaken in order to understand the basic differences between the protein patterns of the two most abundant and deadly snakes of the Central Punjab province of Pakistan viz. the common Cobra (Naja naja) and the Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus). In the present study attempts have been made to permit the comparison between the venoms of these two crucial species of Pakistan by expounding interesting differences in their protein fingerprints.