Characterization of a hemorrhage-inducing component present in Bitis arietans venom

Better characterization of individual snake venom toxins is useful for analyzing the association of their toxic domains and relevant antigenic epitopes. Here we analyzed the Bitis arietans hemorrhagic-inducing toxin present in a representative venom sample. Among the 1´ to 5´ protein peaks isolated using a Sephacryl S 100 HR chromatography column, hemorrhagic activity was expressed by all according to the following intensity, P´5 > P´3 > P´2 >, P´4. The proteins were recognized and measured with antibodies present in polyvalent horse F(ab)´2 anti-B. arietans, Bitis spp., Lachesis muta, B. atrox, Bothrops spp., Crotalus spp., and Naja spp. or in IgY anti-B. arietans and anti-Bitis spp. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and western blotting. In addition, in an in vitro-in vivo assay these anti-venoms were able to block hemorrhagic-inducing activity. The evident cross-reactivity expressed by different specific anti-venoms indicates that metalloproteinases induce an immunological signature indicating the presence of similar antigenic epitopes for several snake venoms.   Key words: Snake venoms, anti-venoms, Bitis arietans, hemorrhage, metalloproteinases.