Cross‐Neutralisation of the Neurotoxic Effects of Egyptian Cobra Venom with Commercial Tiger Snake Antivenom. (13th August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kornhauser, Rachelle; Isbister, Geoffrey K.; O'Leary, Margaret A.; Mirtschin, Peter; Dunstan, Nathan; Hodgson, Wayne C.
• Is Part Of: Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology. Volume 112:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 138
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2012-08-13
• Subjects: Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Pharmacology, Clinical -- Periodicals; Computer network resources; Electronic journals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2012.00925.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7835

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bcpt925-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Cross‐neutralisation has been demonstrated for haemorrhagic venoms including <italic>Echis</italic> spp. and <italic>Cerastes</italic> spp. and for Australia elapid procoagulant toxins. A previous study showed that commercial tiger snake antivenom (TSAV) was able to neutralise the systemic effects of the Egyptian cobra, <italic>Naja haje</italic>, <italic> in vivo</italic> but it is unclear if this was true cross‐neutralisation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether TSAV can neutralise the <italic>in vitro</italic> neurotoxic effects of <italic>N. haje</italic> venom. Both <italic>Notechis scutatus</italic> (10 μg/ml) and <italic>N. haje</italic> (10 μg/ml) venoms caused inhibition of indirect (supramaximal V, 0.1 Hz, 0.2 msec.) twitches of the chick biventer cervicis nerve–muscle preparation with <italic>t</italic><sub>90</sub> values (i.e. the time to produce 90% inhibition of the original twitch height) of 26 ± 1 min. (n = 4<italic>)</italic> and 36 ± 4 min.; (n = 4). This effect at 10 μg/ml was significantly attenuated by the prior addition of TSAV (5 U/ml). A comparison of the reverse‐phase HPLC profiles of both venoms showed some similarities with peak elution times, and SDS‐PAGE analysis elucidated comparable bands across both venoms. Further analysis using Western immunoblotting indicated TSAV was able to detect <italic>N. haje</italic> venom, and enzyme immunoassay showed that in‐house biotinylated polyclonal monovalent <italic>N. scutatus</italic> antibodies were able to detect <italic>N. haje</italic> venom. These findings demonstrate cross‐neutralisation between different and geographically separated snakes supporting potential immunological similarities in snake toxin groups for a large range of snakes. This provides more evidence that antivenoms could be developed against specific toxin groups to cover a large range of snakes.</p> </abstract>