Experimental envenomation with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in dogs treated with antiophidic serum - part I: clinical evaluation, hematology and myelogram

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The present study aimed at evaluating clinical and laboratory aspects during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum. Twenty-one dogs were divided into three groups of seven animals each. Group I received 1mg/kg venom (sc); Group II received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution (iv); and Group III received 1mg/kg venom (sc), 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/kg. The clinical signs of ataxia, sedation, flaccid paralysis, mydriasis, eyeball paralysis, mandible ptosis, sialorrhea, vomiting and diarrhea observed in the dogs were very similar to those observed in humans. The decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte, platelet and fibrinogen levels, prolongation of clotting time, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), as well as hypocellularity in the bone marrow characterized anemia, thrombocytopenia and blood incoagulability, as well as hypofibrinogenemia and decreased bone-marrow activity. Important bleeding was not observed. Increased numbers of leukocytes and neutrophils and decreased numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils characterized an acute inflammatory response and stress caused by generalized pain. The employed antiophidic serum was effective and all animals survived.

Effect of Mikania glomerata (Asteraceae) leaf extract combined with anti-venom serum on experimental Crotalus durissus (Squamata: Viperidae) envenomation in rats

“…The diminution in red blood cells, globular volume and hemoglobin after crotalic experimental envenomation is consistent with the hematological findings from Nogueira et al (2007) and Nogueira & Sakate (2006), who observed the same results in dogs.…”

“…Dyspnea and lower respiratory and cardiac frequencies were seen, especially in animals from group VS, which are related to the crotalic venom's myotoxic and neurotoxic action. This goes along with findings from Amaral et al (1991), Nogueira & Sakate (2006) and Nogueira et al (2007).…”

ACIDENTES CAUSADOS POR SERPENTES DO GÊNERO Crotalus EM PEQUENOS ANIMAIS – REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

“…Nogueira et al, (2007) descreveram em cães, o aparecimento de ataxia, sedação leve a moderada, incapacidade em movimentar os membros, incapacidade de levantar a cabeça, adicionalmente, descreveram que o veneno atinge tanto o sistema nervoso central quanto o sistema nervoso periférico.…”

“…Devido a ação hemolítica do veneno, inicialmente o hemograma costuma apresentar uma discreta leucocitose com neutrofilia, diminuição do número de hemácias, concentração de hemoglobina e da percentagem do hematócrito (NOGUEIRA, 2007;AZEVEDO-MARQUES et al, 1990;BARRAVIERA, 1990). O diagnóstico de IRA pode ser realizado através da elevação progressiva das concentrações séricas de ureia, creatinina e diminuição do débito urinário, com manifestações clínicas como oligúria e anúria.…”

Perfil eletroforético das proteínas séricas de serpentes Crotalus durissus terrificus (cascavel) criadas em cativeiro

“…Na América do Sul os gêneros Bothrops e Crotalus são responsáveis pela maioria dos acidentes ofídicos envolvendo seres humanos e animais (Dourado et al 1988, Kouyoumdjian 1990, Sorensen 1990, Barraviera 1991, Ribeiro 1991, Méndez & Riet-Correa 1995, Sgarbi et al 1995, Pinho et al 2000. O gênero Crotalus da família Crotalidae e sua subespécie Crotalus durissus terrificus são a segunda mais importante causa de acidentes no Brasil (Nogueira et al 2007).…”