Artículo
Inglés
| SES-SP, SES SP - Instituto Butantan, SES-SP | ID: but-ib15963
Variability in the composition of snake venoms occurs in different taxa and is usually correlated to snake fitness. Here, we compared B. atrox venoms from three different geographic regions across the Brazilian Amazon and found remarkable functional differences particularly between venoms from two populationsseparated by the AmazonRiver, in specimens born, raised and maintained under the same conditions at Instituto Butantan serpentary. Venom from Presidente Figueiredo snakes induced stronger dermonecrosis, but was less procoagulant and lethal to mice; these activities were correlated to the presence of a PI-class SVMP and absence of a SVSP in the venom, respectively. Venom from São Bento snakes was more hemorrhagic, killed mice more efficiently, but induced lower signs of dermonecrosis, which was correlated to the higher proportion of SVMPs and the absence of a PI-class SVMP isoform. Belterra snakes, a reference of wild snakes, presented venoms with intermediate phenotypes. Commercial Bothropsantivenom was effective in neutralizing all biological activities evaluated in this study, including dermonecrosis and pro-coagulant, which are relevant for humansnakebiteaccidents by B. atrox. Functional differences correlated to snake fitness may also imply in different symptomatology for B. atrox snakebitepatients and deserve special attention from clinical toxicologists.