Biological properties of Russell's viper venoms of upper and lower Myanmar

ABSTRACT

Biological properties and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis of Russell's viper venoms of Magwe (upper Myanmar) and Ayeyarwaddy divisions (lower Myanmar) were carried out following recommended techniques. Double diffusion and immunoblotting of venom and antivenom were also performed. There are inter and intradivisional variations in venom properties and in electrophoretic pattern. Biological properties of venom of Magwe and Ayeyarwaddy divisions are comparable except the former has weak procoagulant and potent defibrinogenating activities whereas the latter has potent procoagulant and weak defibrinogenating activities. Qualitative and quantitative differences in protein bands are recognized in precipitin reaction and in immunoblotting. These differences in venom properties and venom-antivenom reaction may account for variation in clinical pictures of Russell's viper bite cases of upper and lower Myanmar and variable performance of antivenom.