A comparison of ovine and equine antivenoms.
Abstract: Commercial antivenoms produced in horses were compared with monospecific antivenoms raised in sheep against Crotalus durissus terrificus, Crotalus atrox, Crotalus adamanteus, Micrurus fulvius fulvius, Naja naja, Naja kaouthia, Echis ocellatus, Vipera lebetina deserti, Vipera berus berus and Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom. Antibodies raised by immunizing sheep with C. d. terrificus venom were more effective than their equine counterparts in preventing lethal toxicity in mice (ED50), in inhibiting the venom's pharmacological effects (haemolysis, platelet aggregation and coagulation), and in neutralizing phospholipase A2 activity. Comparison of one ovine and three equine F(ab)2 products raised against V. a. ammodytes venom showed that all were at least 95% pure; that all protected mice; and that all contained antibody populations directed against most components of V. a. ammodytes and V. b. berus venoms. The ovine antivenoms generally contained a higher concentration of specific antibodies than the equine products. Finally, the ovine antivenoms raised against E. ocellatus, V. lebetina deserti, V. b. berus, M. f. fulvius and N. naja venoms provided better in vivo protection to mice than the equine antivenoms, but the equine antivenoms to N. kaouthia and C. atrox were more protective than the ovine product.
Publication Date: 1994-04-01 PubMed ID: 8052997DOI: 10.1016/0041-0101(94)90294-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates whether antivenoms produced from sheep blood offer more effective protection against various snake venoms than those produced from horse blood. The results found that, in most cases, ovine (sheep) antivenoms were more effective, with a few exceptions.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted a comparison of commercially produced antivenoms from horse and sheep blood. They specifically investigated the efficacy of these antivenoms against ten types of snake venom from various species.
- They examined the effectiveness of these antivenoms in preventing lethal toxicity (using the median effective dose or ED50 measure) in mice.
- Additionally, the researchers studied the ability of these antivenoms to neutralize some of the harmful pharmacological effects of snake venom, such as haemolysis (the breakdown of red blood cells), platelet aggregation (clot formation), and coagulation (clotting).
- They also compared the capacity of ovine and equine antivenoms to neutralize the activity of phospholipase A2 – an enzyme amplified in snake venom that damages cells and tissues.
Findings
- Results showed that antibodies obtained through immunizing sheep with C. d. terrificus venom were more effective than their equine counterparts in preventing lethal toxicity in mice, inhibiting venom’s pharmacological effects, and neutralizing phospholilase A2 activity.
- Further comparison of one ovine and three equine F(ab)2 products (antibody fragments) against V. a. ammodytes venom revealed that all products were at least 95% pure and all provided protection to mice against snake venom.
- The sheep-generated antivenoms usually contained a greater concentration of specific antibodies than the horse-products.
- The sheep-made antivenoms against E. ocellatus, V. lebetina deserti, V. b. berus, M. f. fulvius, and N. naja venoms offered better in vivo (in a living organism) protection to mice than horse-produced antivenoms.
- However, for certain snake venoms (N. kaouthia and C. atrox), the equine antivenoms were more effective in providing protection than ovine antivenoms.
To summarize, the study’s findings suggest that, in general, antivenoms produced from sheep blood appear to be more effective against a variety of snake venoms than those created from horse blood. However, the effectiveness can vary depending on the specific type of venom.
Cite This Article
APA
Sjostrom L, al-Abdulla IH, Rawat S, Smith DC, Landon J.
(1994).
A comparison of ovine and equine antivenoms.
Toxicon, 32(4), 427-433.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0041-0101(94)90294-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, U.K.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibody Formation
- Antivenins / biosynthesis
- Antivenins / immunology
- Antivenins / therapeutic use
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
- Immunoglobulin G
- Lethal Dose 50
- Male
- Mice
- Phospholipases A / antagonists & inhibitors
- Phospholipases A2
- Sheep
- Snake Venoms / antagonists & inhibitors
- Snake Venoms / immunology
- Snake Venoms / toxicity
- Species Specificity
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