title: The effect of different snake venoms and anti-venoms on thrombin clotting time in human plasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crotaline snake species, or pit vipers, are distributed throughout Asia and America. While much is known about the clinical effect of these snake venoms, there is a lack of evidence related to the various anti-venoms available and their effectiveness in reversing the effect of different venoms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the interaction of the venoms of the following species: Crotalus unicolor, Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis, Trimeresurus spp, Calloselasma rhodostoma, Bothriechis schlegelii and Agkistrodon and the following anti-venoms: Anticrotalico, Antivipmyn, Antibotropico, Antifidico and SAIMR by evaluating their effect on the thrombin clotting time in human plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The interactions of venoms and anti-venoms were evaluated using thrombin clotting time in human plasma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results demonstrate that Anticrotalico anti-venom was most effective for the Crotalid species (Crotalus unicolor, Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis). Anticrotalico extended the time to clot formation 2.7 fold for Crotalus Unicolor, 3 fold for Crotalus Adamanteus and 4.6 fold for Crotalus Vegrandis. The anti-venoms most efficient in reversing the effect of the Trimeresurus spp venom, were Anticrotalico, Antivipmyn, Antibotropico and Antifidico anti-venoms, which all completely reversed the effect of clot formation as evident by no clot formation within the 999 seconds measurement limit. Bothriechis schlegelii venom was neutralized by all anti-venoms tested. Calloselasma rhodostoma venom was neutralized by Antifidico as well as Anticrotalico. The most efficient anti-venoms against the Agkistrodon venom were Anticrotalico and Antibotropico. In general, monovalent anti-venoms had improved efficiency for their corresponding snake species, depending highly on the composition of the snake venom. This study confirms the importance of considering the choice of anti-venom in a clinical setting, to reverse the effect of specific snake venoms. In addition, this study suggests that some anti-venoms can be considered for use against a variety of snake-venoms.
authors.affiliation: IMC Krems, University of Applied Sciences, Piaristengasse 1, Austria. stefan.buschek@fh-krems.eu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buschek
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ignjatovic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Summerhayes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D017836:Agkistrodon; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D013918:Thrombin Time; D017841:Trimeresurus
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms