Pharmacological characterization and neutralization of the venoms used in the production of Bothropic antivenom in Brazil

Some pharmacological effects of the venoms of five different Brazilian Bothrops species and a pool of these venoms (AgB) were quantified. The ability of polyspecific Bothropic antivenom produced at Fundac¸a˜o Ezequiel Dias (FUNED, Brazil) to neutralize the principal toxic and enzymatic activities was studied using in vivo and in vitro assays. The lethality, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, proteolytic, phospholipase, coagulant and fibrinolytic activities were measured for each of these venoms. Comparison of protein electrophoretic patterns showed significant differences such as the presence of common and also unique components. Furthermore, experimental studies revealed differences in their biological properties among individual samples. It was found that the Bothrops antivenom was highly effective in the neutralization of the toxic activities of all venoms tested. In addition, indirect ELISA was used to compare the antigenic cross-reactivity for each of the five Bothrops venoms as well as the venoms of B. atrox, B. leucurus and B. erythromelas which were not included in the antigenic pool (AgB). Therefore, the characterization of several toxic activities of snake venoms is necessary, if toxicity is to be properly evaluated. Results indicate that the Brazilian antivenom prepared at FUNED against Bothrops snakes is effective in neutralizing the main toxic effects of Bothrops venoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]