An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that discriminates between the venoms of Brazilian Bothrops species and Crotalus durissus

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 253 - 260
• Main Authors: Chávez-Olórtegui, Carlos, Penaforte, Claudia L., Silva, Rosemary R., Ferreira, Ana P., Rezende, Nilton A., Amaral, Carlos F.S., Diniz, Carlos R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-02-1997; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms; Animals; Antigens - blood; Antigens - immunology; Antigens - isolation & purification; Antivenins - immunology; Antivenins - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bothrops; Cross Reactions; Crotalus; Crotalus durissus; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Snake Bites - drug therapy; Snake Bites - immunology; Species Specificity; Toxicology; Viper Venoms - immunology; South America; Brazil; America; Human; Biological fluid; Envenomization; Rodentia; Bite; Animal origin; Enzyme immunoassay; Differential diagnostic; Blood; Ophidia; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Venom; Serum; Reptilia; Specific identification; ELISA assay
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/S0041-0101(96)00119-5

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to detect specific antigens from
Bothrops sp. and
Crotalus durissus snake venoms in Brazil. Cross-reactive immunoglobulins from hyperimmune horse anti-
Bothrops and anti-
Crotalus sera were removed by immunoaffinity chromatography. Specific IgGs for
Bothrops sp. and
C. durissus venom antigens were prepared and used to set up a sandwich-type ELISA. The specificity of the assay was demonstrated by its capacity to identify correctly the circulating antigens in mice experimentally inoculated with both venoms. Measurable absorbance signals were obtained with 5 ng of venom per assay. The ELISA was also used to identify circulating antigens in the sera of humans bitten by
Bothrops sp. and
C. durissus. These ELISAs could be valuable for clinicians and epidemiologists if they prove to have both the high sensitivity and specificity required for such tests.