Some animals - various crotalids, king cobras, the king brown, etc. that manufacture substances in their venom that could have a protective role in their immune systems. Those enzymes may protect them from internal parasites and possibly pathogens.
As to the argument that venom plays no role in the digestion of prey items: that's based on an ASSumption - not any real scientific evidence. That ASSumption is a WAG - postulated because several species of venomous snakes will eat dead prey without it injecting it with venom.
....and venomoids should be fed f/t prey items. What a nasty shock for that poor captive venomoid rattler when that rat he bites doesn't die - how the heck is he going to eat it?
Which brings us back to the digestion question..........What IF enzymes in the venom are intended to assist the digestion system? Is it possibly that venomoids are at risk for complications due to their inability to utilize these enzymes?
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