ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Crotaline snake species, or pit vipers, are distributed throughout Asia and America. While much is known about the clinical effect of these snake venoms, there is a lack of evidence related to the various anti-venoms available and their effectiveness in reversing the effect of different venoms. AIM: This study aimed to determine the interaction of the venoms of the following species: Crotalus unicolor, Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis, Trimeresurus spp, Calloselasma rhodostoma, Bothriechis schlegelii and Agkistrodon and the following anti-venoms: Anticrotalico, Antivipmyn, Antibotropico, Antifidico and SAIMR by evaluating their effect on the thrombin clotting time in human plasma. METHOD: The interactions of venoms and anti-venoms were evaluated using thrombin clotting time in human plasma. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that Anticrotalico anti-venom was most effective for the Crotalid species (Crotalus unicolor, Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis). Anticrotalico extended the time to clot formation 2.7 fold for Crotalus Unicolor, 3 fold for Crotalus Adamanteus and 4.6 fold for Crotalus Vegrandis. The anti-venoms most efficient in reversing the effect of the Trimeresurus spp venom, were Anticrotalico, Antivipmyn, Antibotropico and Antifidico anti-venoms, which all completely reversed the effect of clot formation as evident by no clot formation within the 999 seconds measurement limit. Bothriechis schlegelii venom was neutralized by all anti-venoms tested. Calloselasma rhodostoma venom was neutralized by Antifidico as well as Anticrotalico. The most efficient anti-venoms against the Agkistrodon venom were Anticrotalico and Antibotropico. In general, monovalent anti-venoms had improved efficiency for their corresponding snake species, depending highly on the composition of the snake venom. This study confirms the importance of considering the choice of anti-venom in a clinical setting, to reverse the effect of specific snake venoms. In addition, this study suggests that some anti-venoms can be considered for use against a variety of snake-venoms.
