Specific antibodies IgG raised in rabbits against phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom neutralize the lethal activity of the venom.

JP RODRÍGUEZ, MC DE MARZI, S MARUÑAK, EL MALCHIODI, LC LEIVA, O ACOSTA

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

Fundación Revista Medicina

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2006 vol. 66

0025-7680

Crotalus durissus terrificus (C.d.t.) (South American rattlesnake) venom possesses myotoxic and neurotoxic activities, both of which are also expressed by crotoxin, the principal toxin of this venom. Crotoxin contains a basic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and a non toxic acidic protein, crotapotin. We have produced and investigated the ability of IgG antibodies raised in rabbits against PLA2 to neutralize the lethality of the whole venom.  PLA2 was isolated by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-75).  Specofoc antibodies were obtained by subcutaneous and intramuscular inoculation of PLA2 (700ug) with Freund adjuvant. Groups of six mice (20 + 2 g.) were inoculated with 0,5 mL i.p. of C. d. t. venom (4mg mL-1) or a mixture of venom that had been preincubated with the desired volume of IgG antibodies. Mortality, recorded 24 and 48 hs. after inoculation, showed  that IgG anti-PLA2 were more effective than anticrotalic serum in neutralizing the lethal activity. These results demonstrate that it could be possible to obtain an anti-venom made by specific antibodies with a high level of protection against the lethal component of the C.d.t. venom, and/or the inclusion of these antibodies as a supplement in heterologous anti-venoms.