CROSS-NEUTRALIZATION OF COAGULANT ACTIVITIES OF Lachesis muta muta VENOM BY BRAZILIAN ANTIVENOMS

Muniz, E.G., Noronha, M.D.N., Mendonça, M.a.B., López-Lozano, J.L.

Gerência de Animais Peçonhentos, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil.

In Amazonian rain forest, when Bothrops-Laquesis antivenom is not available, Bothrops antivenoms are use for treatment of Lachesis muta muta snake bites. Clinical and experimental evidences (Bard et al., 1994, Colombini et al., 2000) showed that administration of Bothrops antivenom produced by Butantan Institute was not effective to neutralize coagulation disorders produced by L. m. muta venom. This work compares the efficacy of three different antivenoms produced by three Brazilian Institutes (Butantan, Fundação Ezequiel Dias and Vital Brazil) to neutralize the coagulant and defibrinating activities of L. m. muta venom from Manaus region (Amazonas State- Brazil). Minimum coagulant doses in plasma (MCD-P) and bovine fibrinogen (MCD-F) and defibrinating dose (DF) of Bothrops atrox and  L. m. muta venoms were taken as references.

CONCLUSION. Bothrops antivenoms showed very low efficacy, whereas Bothrops-Crotalus and Crotalus antivenoms were more effective to neutralize coagulation activities of L. m. muta venom. These findings suggest the presence of antibodies in Crotalus antivenoms with ability to neutralize toxins of L. m. muta venom that induce coagulation disorders.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Emiro Gutzmann Muniz, Avenida Pedro Teixeira 25, Manaus, AM, CEP: 69040-000, Brasil, Email: ofidismo@prodamnet.com.br