title: Haemostasis disorders caused by envenomation by Cerastes cerastes and Macrovipera mauritanica vipers.
abstract: Viper venoms are a real source of proteolytic enzymes causing clotting, bleeding, edema, necrosis, hemorrhage, pain at the bite site and systemic changes. This study was conducted to evaluate the changes induced in hematological and haemostatic parameters in rabbits after 1, 3, 6 and 24 h post-venom of subcutaneously administration of a sublethal dose of Cerastes cerastes and Macrovipera mauritanica venoms. Our results indicated that most hematological and haemostatic parameters showed significant changes 3 and 6 h after envenomation. The hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, platelets and prothrombin time were reduced significantly 3 h after envenomation. A very significant increase in the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, activated thromboplastin time and fibrinogen were recorded 6 h following envenomation. However, no significant difference was found for the mean corpuscular volume, corpuscular hemoglobin content and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration throughout the whole duration of the experiment. These results suggest that severe hematological and haemostatic changes may be initiated during the early stages of envenomation leading to local and systemic hemorrhages and coagulopathies which are the main cause of death in case of vipers envenomation.
authors.affiliation: Venoms and Toxins Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco; Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Nutrition Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fahmi
authors.affiliation: Venoms and Toxins Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco; Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Nutrition Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco.
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Makran
authors.affiliation: Venoms and Toxins Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boussadda
authors.affiliation: LNPISN, Faculty of Science and Technology, Hassan II University of Casablanca Mohammedia, Morocco.
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lkhider
authors.affiliation: Venoms and Toxins Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco. Electronic address: noreddine.ghalim@pasteur.ma.
authors.forename: Noreddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghalim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014757:Viper Venoms; D005340:Fibrinogen
keywords: Cerastes cerastes; Envenomation; Haemostasis disorders; Macrovipera mauritanica; Viper venoms