Neutralization, by a monospecific Bothrops lanceolatus antivenom, of toxic activities induced by homologous and heterologous Bothı́rops snake venoms (original) (raw)

A monospeci®c Bothrops lanceolatus antivenom, currently used in Martinique, was tested for its ecacy in the neutralization of several toxic and enzymatic activities of the venoms of B. lanceolatus, B. atrox and B. asper. When tested by the i.p. route in mice, B. lanceolatus venom had an LD 50 of 12.8 mg/g. In addition, it induced local tissue damage (hemorrhage, edema and myotoxicity) and showed indirect hemolytic activity, but was devoid of coagulant eect on human plasma in vitro and of de®brinating activity in mice. Antivenom was fully eective in the neutralization of lethal, hemorrhagic, edema-forming, myotoxic and indirect hemolytic eects of B. lanceolatus venom in assays involving preincubation of venom and antivenom. When tested against the venoms of B. asper and B. atrox, the antivenom completely neutralized the lethal, hemorrhagic, myotoxic and indirect hemolytic eects, and was partially eective in neutralizing edema-forming activity. In contrast, the antivenom was ineective in the neutralization of in vitro coagulant and in vivo de®brinating eects induced by these two venoms. #