ABSTRACT
The following notes on gestation periods and litter size in seven specimens of Leiurus quinquestriatus are presented as observational data. Specimens of Leiurus quinquestriatus from southern Egypt and southern Israel were mated in the laboratory during 2007; afterwards, gestation periods and litter sizes of all females were recorded. Previous studies on this species reported that the gestation period ranged from 150 to 155 days and that litter size was between 12 and 99 offspring. In the present study, gestation periods in specimens from both geographic regions varied from 155 to 227 days and litter sizes were between 35 and 87 offspring. The current contribution expands on previously published data on gestation periods and supports previously reported litter size in Leiurus quinquestriatus.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Pregnancy , Scorpions , Litter SizeABSTRACT
The two most venomous species of the family Buthidae, Leiurus quinquestriatus and Androctonus crassicauda, are found in Africa and in the Middle East. Potency and paraspecific activities of A. crassicauda antivenom (RSHC anti-Ac) were tested against L. quinquestriatus venom. The sera produced by Refik Saydam Hygiene Center (RSHC) showed strong reactivity against the venoms of A. crassicauda and L. quinquestriatus in western blotting and dot-blot analysis. RSHC anti-Ac presents immunoactivity and neutralizing potential against Leiurus quinquestriatus venom. Neutralization capacity of antivenom was found to be 400 µL against 40 minimum lethal doses (MLD) of A. crassicauda scorpion venom and 10 MLD of L. quinquestriatus venom. This study indicates that the RSHC anti-Ac could be used for treating L. quinquestriatus stings.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Scorpion Venoms , Antivenins , AndroctonusABSTRACT
The cumulative actions of scorpion neurotoxins are complex and may be traced to activation of different ion channels with subsequent release of various transmitters and modulators including inflammatory mediators. This could lead to various pathological manifestations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and multiple organ failure (MOF). Several approaches have been advocated to treat the multitude of scorpion-venom-elicited pathological changes. However, few have tried to combat the venom-induced effects on the inflammatory process, which manifest as ARDS, SIDS and MOF. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the capability of inhibitors of different steps of the inflammatory sequence of events in scorpion envenomation to ameliorate the detrimental action of the venom and prolong survival of mice injected with Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus (LQQ) venom. Animals were divided into groups (n = 10) and given montelukast (10 or 20 mg.kg-1, orally), hydrocortisone (5 or 10 mg.kg-1, intravenously) or indomethacin (10 or 20 mg kg-1, intravenously). Then, all animals were subcutaneously injected with either 0.25 or 0.3 mg.kg-1 LQQ venom. Signs and symptoms of envenomation were recorded and survival percentages after 24 hours as well as survival time were determined in each group. To analyze data, we utilized Covariance Wilcoxon survival statistics and survival distribution curves. In general, when compared to venom alone, administration of montelukast (p 0.001), hydrocortisone (p 0.05) and indomethacin (p 0.05) prolonged survival time and increased the percentage of surviving animals per group, with montelukast exhibiting the greatest protecting power. Thus, anti-inflammatory drugs may play an important role in protection against the lethal effects of scorpion venoms.
ABSTRACT
Scorpion venom toxins generally produce similar effects by mainly acting on sodium channels, and to a lesser extent, on potassium, calcium, and chloride channels. This leads to increased release of neurotransmitters and mediators, resulting in a cascade of pathological events, involving the central nervous system, the autonomic nervous system, the cardiovascular and the respiratory system, eventually leading to death. The objective of this paper was to discover whether a sodium channel blocker, lidocaine, or a calcium channel blocker, verapamil, would prolong the survival of mice injected with the venom from the common yellow scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus quinquestriatus (LQQ). For this purpose, mice were divided into 2 groups, each injected with a different venom dose (250 or 300 µg.kg-1, s.c.). Subgroups (n=10) from each group were given venom alone; different doses of lidocaine (4, 10, 15, or 20 mg.kg-1); or several doses of verapamil (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, or 1 mg.kg-1). All doses of lidocaine and verapamil were intravenously administered 3 minutes before, 1, 5, and 15 minutes after venom injection. Percent surviving after 24 hours was recorded in addition to the time of death. In general, lidocaine significantly prolonged survival at the dose of 10 mg.kg-1 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, versus low and high dose of venom, respectively) or 15 mg.kg-1 (P<0.01 and P<0.001, versus low and high dose of venom, respectively; Covariance Wilcoxon survival statistics), especially when injected before the venom or in the early stages of envenomation. On the other hand, in all doses administered, verapamil was either toxic or showed non-significant results. Lidocaine, the sodium channel blocker, appears to play an important role in the protection from lethality of mice injected with LQQ venom, and significantly prolonged the survival time of mice whether injected before or in the early stages of envenomation.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Scorpion Venoms/toxicity , Calcium Channel Blockers/adverse effects , Central Nervous System , Sodium Channel Blockers/adverse effects , Neurotransmitter AgentsABSTRACT
Scorpion venom toxicity is of major concern due to its influence on human activities and public health. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by scorpion L. quinquestriatus venom on two established eukaryotic cell lines (293T and C2C12) were analyzed. Both cultured cell lines were incubated with varying doses (10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) of scorpion venom in serum free medium (SFM) for 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours at 37°C. The percentage of total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in the culture during venom incubation was used as an index of cell damage. Control culture was treated with an equal amount of SFM. Cell injury was recognized morphologically and apoptosis was researched by a Fluorescing Apoptosis Detection System using the principle of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labelling) assay and confirmed by another assay concerning nuclear DNA staining with DAPI stain. Cytotoxicity was remarkable and cell survival highly reduced at the highest tested concentration (50 µg/ml). These effects were rapid and observed within 30 minutes. The apparent initial damage to the nucleus and lysis of the plasmalemma and/or organelle membranes, which was evident by a significant increase in cytosolic LDH release, suggested that this toxin acts at the membrane level. The morphological changes that occurred in apoptotic cells include condensation and compartmentalization of nuclear and cytoplasmic materials into structurally preserved membrane-bound fragments or blebs. The cytotoxic effects are dose and time dependent and cell death by apoptosis was more characteristic of 293T cells than C2C12 cells. The apoptotic effects were more prominent and clear in the early stages of toxicity, while other forms of cell damage such as swelling, rupture, and/or necrosis occurred at later stages.