Coagulating Power of Bothrops Atrox Venom on Hemophiliac Blood

Abstract

Barnet and Macfarlane 1 have recently reported on the use of snake venom for local hemostasis. Their best results were obtained with venom of the Russel viper. We have been working along similar lines with the venom of the Bothrops atrox (Fer-de-Lance). This reptile is a native of Central and South America and is fairly easy to obtain and keep in captivity. Thus, unlike the Russel viper venom, a plentiful and relatively cheap supply of this venom is readily available.

Two different samples of the dried venom were obtained through the courtesy of Dr. R. P. Connor, of the United Fruit Co. The samples represented pooled venoms from “milkings” carried out at the Serpentarium, in Tela, Honduras, several years ago. In the experiments, the venom was diluted with physiologic saline.

The minimum lethal dose for pigeons (intravenous route) weighing 250-350 gm. varied from 0.2-0.25 mg.; the minimum lethal dose in rabbits (intravenous route) of approximately 2 kilos, was 0.015-0.02 mg. These figures were determined on a large series of pigeons and rabbits with both samples.

V. Brazil gives 0.01 as the m.l.d. for pigeons and 0.07 mg. as the m.l.d. for rabbits We have consistently found, as can be seen from our figures, that pigeons were much more resistant than rabbits to the toxins (neurotoxins) of the venom.

The haemorrhagine content of the Bothrops atrox venom was titrated according to the method of Witebsky, Peck, and Neter. 2 One sample failed to elicit hemorrhage in a 1% solution, while the other sample produced a moderate amount of echymosis in 3 minutes when 1 cc. of the 1% solution was added to the chicken embryo. It was, however, decidedly poorer in hemorrhage-producing substance than Moccasin venom.

The coagulating power of Bothrops atrox venom was tested on the blood of 2 hemophiliacs: L.E., age 25, whose clotting time was 58-60 minutes and V.B., age 36, whose clotting time varied from 1 hour and 40 minutes to 1 hour and 46 minutes.