Toxicity evaluation of viper snake venoms and invivo neutralization efficacy test of FAV-AFRIQUE and VECSERAantivenoms

Abstract

Introduction: Snake bite is a public health hazard that leads to high morbidity and mortality in the rural areas of Ethiopia. Thousands of injuries associated with bites of venomous snake occur every year in the country. The most common types of snake venoms which cause cytotoxic and hemotoxic clinical effects are viper species.

Objective: To determine the lethal values of reference snake venoms in Swiss mice and to assesss efficacy of FAV-AFRIQUE and VECSERAantivenoms drugs.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate venom toxicity, comparison between routes of administration mice (n-8) as treatment and control, and neutralization test of two polyvalent antivenoms. The categorical bivalent variables were assessed using non-regression analysis as 95% confidence level and Grap pad prizm 5 software and using statistical program (SPSS) of linear modeling.    

Result: The lethality values obtained from four venomous snakes indicated that Bitisarietanssomalicaand Echispyramidumare were found to be more toxic than B. parviocula. Caususrhombeatus is less toxic than other species examined. Comparing the two injection routes revealed that viper venoms were 2.5 times less toxic when injected in intraperitoneal compared to intravenous. The point of interception in the four plots indicated that the LD₅₀ of B.a.somalica venom was the most toxic venom followed by E. pyramidum, B. parviocula and C. rhombeatus venoms. In neutralization tests B. parviocula, Echispyramidum and B.a.somalica venoms were achieved when a challenge dose of 3LD₅₀ of venoms were used in mice.

Conclusion: The antivenoms study showed the potential of FAV-AFRIQUE as a primary treatment for snake envenomation in Ethiopia but the low cost and availability of VECSERA antivenom make the latter more practical.