Detection of antibodies to myotoxin a and prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) venom in three antisera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunodiffusion.
Immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to compare three antisera for their content of antibodies against myotoxin a and C. v. viridis venom. No antibodies were detected in Wyeth's polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenin against myotoxin a using immunodiffusion, whereas ELISA indicated a low titer of such antibodies. However, antimyotoxin a serum and anti-C. v. viridis venom both had higher titers than antivenin when tested against myotoxin a and crude venom in the ELISA. These results correlate well with previous data which indicated that antiserum to myotoxin a was more effective than antivenin in neutralizing the myotoxicity of C. v. viridis venom. The high content of antibodies to myotoxin a in anti-C. v. viridis venom supports the hypothesis that this monovalent antiserum might be effective in neutralizing rattlesnake (C. v. viridis) venom-induced myonecrosis.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000032:analysis*; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D007106:Immune Sera; D012910:Snake Venoms; C018932:myotoxin A