Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the detection of Russell's viper venom in body fluids. This is a competitive binding technique using a monoclonal antibody directed against the factor X activator of Russell's viper venom. The sensitivity of the test in urine was 4 ng/ml, in 0.1% bovine serum albumin-phosphate buffered saline it was 20 ng/ml and in serum it was 5 micrograms/ml. This was adequate to detect venom in the serum of four patients bitten by Russell's viper. Urine from an isolated kidney preparation perfused with Russell's viper venom contained coagulant activity and was positive using the competitive RIA. Testing of sera from other envenomated patients and pure venom from seven other species of snake indigenous to Thailand revealed RIA cross reactivity between cobra venom and Russell's viper venom. In practice, the absence of coagulant activity in cobra venom clearly distinguishes between the two. Although further development is required to elucidate the serum factors interfering with this assay, this is a promising technique, which is of potential value in the diagnosis and investigation of the pathophysiology of Russell's viper envenomation.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Toxicon

Publication Date

1987

Volume

25

Pages

721 - 729

Keywords

Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Endopeptidases, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Male, Metalloendopeptidases, Radioimmunoassay, Rats, Snake Bites, Viper Venoms