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J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis. Vol.9, No.2, p.531, 2003. Poster - ISSN 1678-9199. |
EXPERIMENTAL ENVENOMATION BY Bothrops moojeni IN DOGS
SILVA JUNIOR, P.G.P.(1), M, CARDOSO, R.R.(1), ALZAMORA FILHO, F.(1), LUCIA, M.(2), HABERMEHL, G.(3)
(1)Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Escola de Veterinária, UFMG, Brasil, (2)Escola de Veterinária, UNIFENAS, Brasil, (3)Chemisches Institut, Tierärztliche Hochschule, Hannover, Germany
Envenoming caused by snakes of Bothrops genus is an important issue in Veterinary Medicine, due to its high incidence, seriousness and sequels. Envenoming caused by Bothrops moojeni is poorly studied in animals. “Caiçaca” is the popular name of B. moojeni, which is largely distributed in Brazil, being present in the following States: Paraná, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Maranhão. B. moojeni envenoming is associated with intense and immediate local reaction, which is characterized by edema and pain as the earliest signs. In order to determine the clinical aspects, Bothrops moojeni desiccated venom was diluted in saline and injected IM (0.3mg/kg) in five dogs. All the animals were examined before and 2, 12, 36, 48, 96, 144 and 192 hours after inoculation. Intensity of edema was estimated by pachymeter measurement and the hemorrhage development by measuring the diameter of the hemorrhagic halo with a special ruler. Blood was collected from the cephalic vein, with and without EDTA, and the hematological parameters and blood-clotting time were assessed. Immediately after the venom inoculation, pain and decrease of rectal temperature were observed. Cardiac frequency was increased, returning to normal levels after a week. Large local edema was observed, affecting thoracic limbs, and pectoral and cervical areas. Three dogs showed hemorrhagic halo without necrosis. No blood coagulation was observed within four days after inoculation, with blood-clotting time returning to normality after that. Leucocytosis, decreased red blood cell count, decreased hemoglobin concentration, decreased packed cell volume, and thrombocytopenia were also observed and could be explained by the hemorrhage.
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