title: Toxicity evaluation and initial characterization of the venom of a Colombian Latrodectus sp.
abstract: The genus Latrodectus has not been studied in Colombia even though it is medically important worldwide; there are three species for the country, this study focused on a non-identified species found in the Tatacoa Desert in the Huila Department. This research is the first approximation to the extraction, composition analysis and toxicity evaluation of the venom of a species of the genus Latrodectus in Colombia; and aims to evaluate the toxicity by the initial characterization of its venom. The venom extraction was accomplished with electrostimulation and total protein concentration was determined by the Lowry method and BCA assays from crude venom; with these methods, high protein concentration of the samples was measured. Bioassays on mice were also made to evaluate the toxicity and compare the symptoms produced by this Colombian spider to the Latrodectism Syndrome. Finally, an SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was used to separate the main components of high molecular weight from the samples and compared to a control of the venom of Latrodectus mactans to determine if the venom composition is different between these two species.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, Laboratory of Zoology and Aquatic Ecology LAZOEA, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: mart-rue@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, Laboratory of Zoology and Aquatic Ecology LAZOEA, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: erealpe@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Realpe
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, Biochemical Investigation Center CIBI, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Electronic address: jeuribe@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uribe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001740:Black Widow Spider; D003105:Colombia; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D051379:Mice; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D013112:Spiders; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D013111:Spider Venoms
keywords: Black widow; Latrodectism; Latrodectus; SDS-PAGE; Spider; Venom