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IMMUNOLOGICAL STABILITY OF AN ELAPID VENOM, TROPIDECHIS CARINATUS , AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE CLINICAL DETECTION OF SNAKE VENOM
Author(s) -
Morrison JJ,
Pearn JH,
Coulter AR,
Halliday WJ
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1983.46
Subject(s) - venom , antivenom , snake venom , incubation , ophidia , chemistry , biology , toxicology , chromatography , medicine , biochemistry
Summary Using immunological techniques, cases of human snake‐bite can be proven and individual snake species identified, A series of experiments is described, to test the antigenic stability and physical properties of an Elapid venom, venom properties which will have implications in field use. transport, or the laboratory procedures relating to the immunological characterization of Australian snake venoms. Using venom from the Elapid, Tropidechis carinatus , we have demonstrated significant immunological stability at a temperature of 37° for 48 h at least, and for 24 h at least when incubated continuously with skin, muscle, and fat homogenates; the venom is stable at 56° for 2 h at least. No loss of venom occurs over the pH range 7‐10; at ph ranges <4 and at ranges >10 only 30% of venom is detected after 30 min incubation. Sonication (10 min at 100 watts) does not destroy immunological properties of the venom; 10 freeze‐thaw cycles result in some 9% loss of immunologically detectable activity. Venom is adsorbed significantly on to dacron swabs, only 13% of the applied dose being detected after 48 h incubation at 28°. Sixty‐seven percent of applied venom can be recovered from the skin of human volunteers 6 h after a simulated bite. The venom of this Elapid is antigenically robust. With the currently available sensitive assays, venom from human skin should still be detected in material kept without special preparation under field conditions for up to 2 days at least.