Neutralizing capacity of a new monovalent anti-Bothrops atrox antivenom: comparison with two commercial antivenoms

• Main Authors: R. Otero, V. Núñez, J.M. Gutiérrez, A. Robles, R. Estrada, R.G. Osorio, G. Del-Valle, R. Valderrama, C.A. Giraldo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 1997-03-01
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
• Subjects: Bothrops atrox; snake venom; antivenom; neutralization; Antioquia; Chocó
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1997000300011

Three horse-derived antivenoms were tested for their ability to neutralize lethal, hemorrhagic, edema-forming, defibrinating and myotoxic activities induced by the venom of Bothrops atrox from Antioquia and Chocó (Colombia). The following antivenoms were used: a) polyvalent (crotaline) antivenom produced by Instituto Clodomiro Picado (Costa Rica), b) monovalent antibothropic antivenom produced by Instituto Nacional de Salud-INS (Bogotá), and c) a new monovalent anti-B. atrox antivenom produced with the venom of B. atrox from Antioquia and Chocó. The three antivenoms neutralized all toxic activities tested albeit with different potencies. The new monovalent anti-B. atrox antivenom showed the highest neutralizing ability against edema-forming and defibrinating effects of B. atrox venom (41 ± 2 and 100 ± 32 µl antivenom/mg venom, respectively), suggesting that it should be useful in the treatment of B. atrox envenomation in Antioquia and Chocó