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Vampire Bats Might Aid Stroke Victims

Posted by timothy on from the hold-still-uncle-joe dept.

Ginas writes "CNN is reporting the bite of a vampire bat may help stroke victims. According to the article a substance taken from bats' saliva contains a powerful clot buster and may be used up to three times longer than the current stroke treatment and without additional risk for brain damage side effects. Kind of makes you wonder how they stumbled on to this discovery."

1 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. What's to wonder? by Drakin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Really, what's to wonder, when you think about it. preventing the blood from clotting would be a good thing for a vampire bat, as they don't suck blood, they make a wound with their incisors and lap at the blood that flows from the wound.

    The fact that the saliva from a vampire bat prevents blood from clotting is well known I beleive, likely first realised when a wounded animal's wound flowed for longer than normal. Just the notion of applying that knowedge in this manner is really new. though, if you think about it, it makes you wonder "why didn't they think of this sooner?"