Serum kinetics of crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice: evidence for a rapid clearance

Abstract

M. Barral-Netto and R. L. von Sohsten. Serum kinetics of crotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice: evidence for a rapid clearance. Toxicon29, 527–531, 1991.—We report on an ELISA for the detection of crotoxin with a detection limit of 1–3 pg/ml of sample. Cross-reactivity with other animal venoms occurred only at concentrations above 1 μg/ml. Serum kinetics of crotoxin were investigated in BALB/c mice after a single 10 μg s.c. dose of venom obtained from Crotalus durissus terrificus. Crotoxin levels were 254±141 ng/ml serum (View the MathML source) 15 min after venom injection, 3.9±0.5 ng/ml serum at 30 min and undetectable thereafter. The rapid clearance of crotoxin from the serum suggests that the test may be unsuitable for the clinical management of envenomation victims.