title: Neutralization of Vipera and Macrovipera venoms by two experimental polyvalent antisera: a study of paraspecificity.
abstract: We conducted an extensive study of neutralization of lethality of 11 species and one subspecies of snakes of the genus Vipera, and of five species of Macrovipera, by two experimental equine antisera. One antiserum was a trivalent preparation raised against the venoms of Vipera aspis aspis, Vipera berus berus and Vipera ammodytes ammodytes; the other was a pentavalent preparation that also included venoms of Vipera (now Montivipera) xanthina and Macrovipera lebetina obtusa. We measured specific neutralization of lethality against all venoms included in the immunization schemes, and paraspecific neutralization against the venoms of Vipera ammodytes montandoni, Vipera (Montivipera) bornmuelleri, Vipera latastei, Vipera (Mo.) latifii, Vipera (Mo.) lotievi, Vipera (Daboia) palaestinae, Vipera (Mo.) raddei and Vipera seoanei, as well as against Macrovipera (D.) deserti, Macrovipera lebetina cernovi, Macrovipera lebetina turanica and Macrovipera schweitzeri. We found an important degree of paraspecific protection within each genera (omitting recent reclassification) that was quite independent of both the lethal potency of the venoms and their geographic origin. This information may be of use to clinicians charged with the treatment of Vipera or Macrovipera envenomations with non-specific antivenoms.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Irving G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Archundia
authors.forename: Adolfo R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: de Roodt
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramos-Cerrillo
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chippaux
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olguín-Pérez
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alagón
authors.forename: Roberto P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D017819:Viperidae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D007106:Immune Sera; D014757:Viper Venoms