title: Active immunization of cattle with a bothropic toxoid does not abrogate envenomation by Bothrops asper venom, but increases the likelihood of survival.
abstract: This study assessed the protective effect of active immunization of cattle to prevent the envenomation induced by B. asper venom. Two groups of oxen were immunized with a bothropic toxoid and challenged by an intramuscular injection of either 10 or 50 mg B. asper venom, to induce moderate or severe envenomations, respectively. Non-immunized oxen were used as controls. It was found that immunized oxen developed local edema similar to those observed in non-immunized animals. However, systemic effects were totally prevented in immunized oxen challenged with 10 mg venom, and therefore antivenom treatment was not required. When immunized oxen were challenged with 50 mg venom, coagulopathy was manifested 3-16 h later than in non-immunized oxen, demonstrating a delay in the onset of systemic envenomation. In these animals, active immunization did not eliminate the need for antivenom treatment, but increased the time lapse in which antivenom administration is still effective. All experimentally envenomed oxen completely recovered after a week following venom injection. Our results suggest that immunization of cattle with a bothropic toxoid prevents the development of systemic effects in moderate envenomations by B. asper, but does not abrogate these effects in severe envenomation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Química Analítica, Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Palma Tica S.A., División Quepos, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Aarón
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Mariángela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Mauren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villalta
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. Electronic address: guillermo.leon@ucr.ac.cr.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: León
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D017837:Bothrops / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014121:Toxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D020011:Protective Agents; D014121:Toxoids
keywords: Bothropic toxoid; Bothrops asper; Cattle; Snake antivenom; Snakebite envenomation; Vaccine