Kinetics of venom and antivenom serum levels, clinical evaluation and therapeutic effectiveness in dogs inoculated with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: F. Sangiorgio, M. Sakate, R. M. B. Nogueira, J. P. Araújo JR., C. Chavez-Olortegui
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2008
• Subjects: Crotalus durissus terrificus; dogs; clinical signs; ELISA; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992008000100008; https://doaj.org/article/4c7b112cd4544df69ee90d2d6be7b6ab

This work evaluated the clinical and therapeutic aspects as well as serum levels of venom and antivenom IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in experimental envenomation of dogs with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. Twenty-eight mixed breed adult dogs were divided into four groups of seven animals each, Group I: only venom; Group II, venom + 50 ml of anti-bothropic-crotalic serum (50mg) + fluid therapy; Group III, venom + 50 ml of anti-bothropic-crotalic serum + fluid therapy + urine alkalination; Group IV, 50 ml of anti-bothropic-crotalic serum. The lyophilized venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus was reconstituted in saline solution and subcutaneously inoculated at the dose of 1mg/kg body weight. The dogs presented clinical signs of local pain, weakness, mandibular ptosis, mydriasis, emesis and salivation. The venom levels detected by ELISA ranged from 0 to 90ng/ml, according to the severity of the clinical signs. Serum antivenom ranged from 0 to 3ug/ml and was detected for up to 138h after treatment. ELISA results showed the effectiveness of the serum therapy for the venom neutralization.