An investigation of the coagulant activity of the venom of the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) from Saudi Arabia.
Unlike the venom of Echis carinatus from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Kenya, Iran and Oman, Saudi Arabian E. carinatus venom is a poor activator of prothrombin. However, it possesses similar defibrinogenating activity to the other venoms. This is because the venom from Saudi Arabian snakes contains a calcium-dependent factor X activator. It is suggested that in future studies of the coagulant activity of venoms, the determination of plasma coagulant activity should be carried out in the presence of added calcium ions. This applies particularly to those venoms which do not act on plasma or fibrinogen, but which do cause in vivo defibrinogenation.
Kamiguti
A S
AS
Haematology Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
Theakston
R D
RD
Tomy
S C
SC
D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005170:Factor X; D005340:Fibrinogen; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
D014757:Viper Venoms; D005170:Factor X; D005340:Fibrinogen