You are bitten by a venomous snake at a nature center. A snake handler is also bitten. You are rushed to the emergency room and given an antiserum
The snake handler does not receive treatment because he said he was exposed to venom so many times that he is immune. What is antiserum and will you have long-lasting immunity to snake venom after this? Is what the snake handler said possible or should he also receive treatment? If he does not receive treatment and is not affected, what is protecting him?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Antiserum is a type of artificial passive immunity where an individual is injected with pre-formed purified antibodies. In this case, the antibodies will bind to the snake venom and prevent the venom from harming the tissues. Antiserum does NOT provide long-lasting immunity. The antibodies that were injected will slowly decrease over time. Because the antibodies are given within a few hours of exposure, most people do not develop their own antibodies to snake venom after being bitten and treated. The snake handler may actually be immune to snake venom if he has been exposed multiple times without being rapidly treated. His immune system may have processed the venom as an antigen and actively created antibodies and B memory cells specific to snake venom that would provide long-lasting immunity.
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