The...uh...Star Trek allusion was itself somewhat tongue-in-cheek and bewitched with whimsicality and silliness. Sort of like Captain Kirk's outfits.
Something about snake bites and venom may have a connection on the anthropological level. Although the rumors of snake men and/or lizard men extraterrestrials always keep things interesting and lively! An Ickes/Potter hermeneutics delivers.
I think it's just cause snakes are icky. (Icky, get it?? HAhaha! Okay, nevermind)