title: [Neutralization of toxic and enzyme activities of 4 venoms from snakes of Guatemala and Honduras by the polyvalent antivenin produced in Costa Rica].
abstract: We studied the ability of the polyvalent antivenom produced in Costa Rica to neutralize lethal, hemorrhagic, edema-forming, proteolytic, hemolytic, hyaluronidase and fibrinolytic activities of the venoms of Bothrops asper and B. nummifer from Honduras, and of Agkistrodon bilineatus and Crotalus durissus durissus from Guatemala. Neutralizing ability of antivenom was expressed as ED50 (effective dose 50%), defined as the antivenom/venom ratio at which the activity of the venom is reduced 50%. Antivenom is highly effective in the neutralization of lethal, hemorrhagic, hemolytic, hyaluronidase, and caseinolytic activities of B. asper, B. nummifer, and C. d. durissus venoms. In the case of B. nummifer venom, neutralization of fibrinolytic effect was only partial, whereas this activity was adequately neutralized when studying the venoms of B. asper and C. d. durissus. The venom of A. bilineatus was adequately neutralized by the antivenom, with the only exception of hemolytic effect that was reduced only partially. However, in quantitative terms, a relatively large volume of antivenom was required to neutralize some effects induced by A. bilineatus venom. Regarding edema-forming activity, antivenom neutralized efficiently the venoms of B. asper and A. bilineatus, whereas that of B. nummifer was neutralized only partially; on the other hand, edema induced by the venom of C. d. durissus was not neutralized at all. Immunochemical results indicate a close immunological relationship between venoms of B. asper, B. nummifer and C. d. durissus collected in Honduras and Guatemala with those of the same species collected in Costa Rica. Interspecies comparison, however, showed variation between venoms obtained from different species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gené
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerdas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
vernacular_title: Neutralización de las actividades tóxicas y enzimáticas de cuatro venenos de serpientes de Guatemala y Honduras por el antiveneno polivalente producido en Costa Rica.