COMPARATIVE STUDIES AMONG BRAZILIAN CENTIPEDE VENOMS

LIRA M. S. (1), MALTA M. B. (1), SOARES S. L.(1), ROCHA G. C. (1), KNYSAK I. (2), MARTINS R.(2), GUIZZE S. P. G.(2), SANTORO M. L. (3), BARBARO K. C. (1)

(1) Lab. of Immunopathology; (2) Lab. of Arthropods, (3) Lab. of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, SP, Brazil.

Envenomation by centipedes is characterized by burning pain, paresthesia and edema, sometimes evolving to superficial necrosis. These animals have a pair of forceps connected to a venom gland used to arrest the prey. They prefer lo live in hidden places, which allow them an easy adaptation around and inside residences in urban areas. The aim of this work was to compare some properties of Otostigmus pradoi, Cryptops iheringi and Scolopendra viridicornis centipede venoms. By SDS-PAGE (4-20%), differences were noticed among venoms (between 7 and 205 kDa). A strong band (around 130 kDa) was similarly detected in all venoms. Using zymography, caseinolytic (around 40 kDa) and gelatinolytic activities (distributed between 16 and 190 kDa) were observed in all venoms. Components with fibrinogenolytic (approximately 40 kDa) and hyaluronidase (42 kDa region) activities were only observed in S. viridicornis and O. pradoi venoms. Most of these enzymatic components are metalloproteinases. Cross-reactivity was detected among all venoms by ELISA and Western blotting using species-specific sera raised in rabbits. All venoms induced nociception, edema and myotoxicity in mice, but only S. viridicornis induced discrete hemorrhagic activity. No coagulant activity was detected in centipede venoms and only S. viridicornis had direct hemolytic activity on human O positive red blood cells. Discrete differences were noticed among centipede venoms, but S. viridicornis showed the most toxic activities, which can explain the severity of the clinical picture observed in human accidents by this species.

KEY WORDS: centipede, venoms, Scolopendra viridicornis, Cryptops iheringi, Otostigmus pradoi.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: FAPESP (03/04527-1) and FUNDAP.

CORRESPONDENCE TO: KATIA CRISTINA BARBARO, Av. Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, Telephone: +55 11 3726 7222 ext. 2278/2134. Email: kbarbaro@butantan.gov.br.