title: Protection against the lethal effects of Crotalus durissus terrificus (South American rattlesnake) venom in animals immunized with crotoxin.
abstract: Mice and rabbits were immunized against crotoxin (the neurotoxic component isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom) using small amounts of antigen in a water-in-oil emulsion. Following boosting (three times at 21-day intervals) a high titre of antibodies against crotoxin was obtained. Crotoxin immunoglobulin G antibody recognizes whole venom antigen at a level comparable with that of crotoxin antigen, using the ELISA method for antibody detection. The antibodies generated by crotoxin were capable of providing 100% protection against challenge with 11 and 50 i.p. LD50 doses of whole venom in mice. When 100 i.p. LD50 doses of whole venom were injected survival was 77.8%.
authors: Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil.
authors: T V
authors: TV
authors: Freitas
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Fortes-Dias
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Diniz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D003439:Crotoxin / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D051379:Mice; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000276:immunology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D003439:Crotoxin; D010741:Phospholipases A