Solitary Crowned Eagles (Harpyhalieatus coronatus) Plasma Neutralizes Pit Viper (Bothrops alternatus) Venom In Vitro

PABLO REGNER; VANESA COSTA DE OLIVIERA; ADOLFO DE ROODT; AGUSTÍN IE. QUAGLIA; GUILLERMO WIEMEYER; ANDRÉS E. CAPDEVILLE; MIGUEL D. SAGGESE

Bariloche, Rio Negro

Conferencia; I worldwilde raptor conference; 2013

Ophiophagy (?snake eating?) is a type of alimentary behavior characterized by the hunting and consumption of snakes. Some ophiophagus (?snake eaters?) animals have plasmatic proteins which can confer immunity to snake venom. The Solitary Crowned Eagle, an endangered raptor inhabiting Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, is known to occasionally feed upon several species of venomous snakes, suggesting the presence of effective anti-venom protective mechanisms in their plasma. However, the anti-venom activity of the Eagle?s plasma has not been reported. We hypothesize that Solitary Crowned Eagle?s blood have anti-venom protective factors. Therefore, in this presentation, we report the results of a series of assays investigating the neutralizing activity of the Eagle?s plasma against the hemolytic, coagulant, and hemorrhagic effects of pit viper?s venom. Preliminary results of this study suggest that the Eagle?s plasma has a series of components capable of neutralizing different toxic fractions of pit viper?s venom by inhibiting in vitro several enzymes and toxins in a dose-dependent form. Combined with mechanical barriers on the Eagle?s leg skin and discrete hunting behavior, the presence of anti-venom neutralizing fractions in their plasma may confer the Solitary Crowned Eagle with an ecological advantage that may allow them to feed safely on venomous snakes. Further research is ongoing to isolate and characterize the specific protein fractions present in the Solitary Crowned Eagle?s plasma responsible for neutralizing snake venom.