envenomation envenomation envenomation is the process by which venom is injected by the bite or sting of a venomous animal. envenomationspecialtytoxicology many kinds of animals, including mammals (e.g., the northern short-tailed shrew, blarina brevicauda), reptiles (e.g., the king cobra), spiders (e.g., black widows), insects (e.g., wasps), and fish (e.g., stone fish) employ venom for hunting and for self-defense. a droplet of venom on the stinger of a wasp in particular, snakebite envenoming is considered a neglected tropical disease resulting in >100,000 deaths and maiming >400,000 people per year. mechanisms some venoms are applied externally, especially to sensitive tissues such as the eyes, but most venoms are administered by piercing the skin of the victim. venom in the saliva of the gila monster and some other reptiles enters prey through bites of grooved teeth. more commonly animals have specialized organs such as hollow teeth (fangs) and tubular stingers that penetrate the prey's skin, whereupon muscles attached to the attacker's venom reservoir squirt venom deep within the victim's body tissue. for example, the fangs of venomous snakes are connected to a venom gland by means of a duct. death may occur as a result of bites or stings. the rate of envenoming is described as the likelihood of venom successfully entering a system upon bite or sting. diagram of a snake's venom delivery system mechanisms of snake envenomation