title: [Experimental efficacy of IgY antibodies produced in eggs against the venom of the Peruvian snake Bothrops atrox].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an immunization protocol in order to produce avian IgY immunoglobulins against Bothrops atrox Peruvian snake venom and to evaluate its neutralizing capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six Hy Line Brown hens were immunized each two weeks using 500μg/doses of B. atrox venom in a period of two months. Each week, eggs were collected for IgY isolation from yolk using two consecutive steps with caprilic acid and ammonium sulfate. Detection of IgY anti-B. atrox were performed by double immunodiffusion, whereas title and cross-reactivity were analyzed using ELISA and Western Blot technics, respectively. Furthermore, letal dose (DL(50)) and Medium Effective Dose (DE(50)) were obtained by Probit analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a result of this protocol, chicken IgY's were obtained in a concentration of 8,5 ± 1,35 mg/yolk mL. DE50 from avian antivenom was 575 μL/venom mg. Cross-reactivity studies showed Bothrops atrox venom share more commom epitopes with Bothrops brazili (47%) than others Bothrops venoms showing Lachesis muta (19%) and Crotalus durissus (12%) venoms a low crossing reactivity, instead.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using this procedure, we could purify chicken IgY with a neutralizant capacity of B. atrox venom which is comparable to the antivenom of equine origin and demonstrate its capacity as a immunoanalitical tool to evaluate the cross reactivity with others peruvian snakes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. sfexryu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vivas
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rosio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inga
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lazo
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yarlequé
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology*; D017837:Bothrops; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010063:Ovum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; C016512:IgY; D007136:Immunoglobulins