Advances in the characterization of the Mapanare venom Bothriopsis Medusa: hemostatic alterations and antigenic recognition by a venezuelan antivenom

Avances en la caracterización del veneno de la Mapanare Bothriopsis Medusa: alteraciones hemostáticas y reconocimiento antigénico por un antiveneno venezolano

• Carmen Teresa Duque-Zerpa Universidad Central de Venezuela
• Katherine Grillet Universidad Central de Venezuela
• María Eugenia Pineda Universidad Central de Venezuela

Keywords: Bothriopsis medusa, mapanare, hemostatic alterations, antivenom

Abstract

Bothriopsis medusa, commonly known as "viejita" or "mapanare" is a venom species endemic to Venezuela. This is distributed in the States of Aragua, Carabobo, Miranda, Vargas and Capital District. This important geographic location, its cryptic coloration, small size and semi-aerial habits, could give it some relevance in the incidence of ophidian accidents. Like all mapanare, it is considered that it could induce an accident characterized by edema, necrosis, hemorrhages and/or coagulopathies, however the experimental and clinical information on this species is scarce. This study partially characterized the venom from B. medusa, evaluating its eletrophoretic and chromatographic profiles by molecular exclusion, its hemorrhagic, fibrinogenolytic, coagulant and anticoagulant activities. In addition to its antigenic recognition by a Venezuelan antivenom, using immuno-precipitation assays. The results obtained showed an electrophoretic profile constituted by proteins of ~19 to 130 kDa, although clearly distributed in three groups (~19-27, 55-68 and 100-130 kDa). The fractionation presented five fractions, however only the first three showed important levels of proteins. The venom induced hemorrhagic and fibrinogenolytic activities, but not anticoagulant or procoagulant in vitro. The immuno-precipitation assays showed venom-antivenom recognition bands. In conclusion, the venom of B. medusa presented toxinological characteristics that showed important variations with respect to those exhibited by other groups of mapanares in Venezuela, as those belonging to the Bothrops genus, which were essentially related to the absence of a procoagulant effect which determines the diagnosis and treatment in case of ophidian envenomation in the Country. Additionally, the venom shares antigens or, failing that, common epithets, with those used in the production of the antivenom evaluated. This study presented new evidences about the toxinological potential of the venom of B. medusa, which can contribute to broaden the knowledge about the envenomation from “mapanares” in the Country and improve the clinical management of these accidents.

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