title: A pilot experiment for production of Malayan krait antivenom: immunization of rabbits with Bungarus candidus venom.
abstract: Immunization with Bungarus candidus venom was performed in four rabbits at high dose (initial dose, 75 microg/kg) and low dose (initial dose, 50 microg/kg). Each dose group consisted of two rabbits; one rabbit received the venom subcutaneously (s.c.) and the other intradermally (i.d.). The venom was injected as emulsified solutions with the same volume of Freund's complete adjuvant until the 4th immunization, thereafter as plain solutions. By stepwise increments of the immunizing dose, the higher dose group received a dose of 200 microg/kg and the lower dose group 150 microg/kg after the 5th immunization, respectively. Thereafter, seven additional immunizations were performed within six months. All rabbits were sacrificed two weeks after the last immunization (12th). Antilethal activity of the immunized antisera thus obtained was determined not only with the homologous venom but also with two heterologous venoms from Bungarus fasciatus and Bungarus flaviceps. Immunodiffusion analysis was also performed with these venoms. The results obtained in this pilot trial provided useful information for production of Malayan krait antivenom at Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute.
authors.affiliation: Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, The Thai Red Cross Society, 1871 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Lawan.C@chula.ac.th
authors.forename: Lawan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chanhome
authors.forename: Sununta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puempunpanich
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omori-Satoh
authors.forename: Narongsak
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaiyabutr
authors.forename: Visith
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sitprija
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D017838:Bungarus; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D007114:Immunization; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008296:Malaysia; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D004546:Elapid Venoms