Received: June 6, 2008.

Accepted: September 12, 2008.

Abstract published online: September 26, 2008.

Full paper published online: May 30, 2009.

ANTIVENOM REVERSAL OF BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS INDUCED BY BLACK SCORPION Heterometrus fastigiousus COUZIJN VENOM IN MICE

Chaubey MK (1)

(1) Department of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT: In the present study, Heterometrus fastigiousus venom (HFV) was employed as antigen to produce species-specific scorpion antivenom (SAV) in albino mice (NIH) strain. To determine SAV efficacy, it was pre-incubated with 10 LD50 of HFV and then injected subcutaneously into mice. Subsequently, mortality was observed after 24 hours. Minimum effective dose (MED) was 12.5 LD50 of HFV/mL of SAV. SAV effectiveness to reverse HFV-induced biochemical alterations in mice was analyzed by challenge method. Simultaneously, mice received subcutaneously 40% of 24-hour-LD50 of HFV and intravenously SAV. After four hours, changes in serum glucose, free amino acids, uric acids, pyruvic acid, cholesterol, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase enzyme level were determined. Treatment with species-specific SAV resulted in the reversal of HFV-induced biochemical alterations.

KEY WORDS: venom, antivenom, envenomation, Heterometrus fastigiousus, serotherapy.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

MUKESH KUMAR CHAUBEY, Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Mahatma Gandhi College, Gorakhpur, 273 001, UP, India. Phone: +91 09839427296. Email: chaubey.mukesh@rediffmail.com.