Evaluating the Immunological cross-reactivity of Indian polyvalent antivenoms towards the venom ofHypnale hypnale(hump-nosed pit viper) from the Western Ghats

Abstract

Hypnale hypnale (hump-nosed pit viper) is a venomous pit viper species found in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Due to the severe life-threatening envenomation effects induced by its venom components, Hypnale hypnale has been classified under ″category 1″ of medically important snake species by the World Health Organization. Since there are no specific antivenoms available to combat its envenomation in India, the only option available is to administer Indian polyvalent antivenoms. However, the cross-neutralization potential of the commercially available polyvalent antivenoms on Indian Hypnale hypnale venom has not been explored so far. In the current study, in vitro immunological cross-reactivity of Hypnale hypnale venom towards various Indian polyvalent antivenoms were assessed using end point titration ELISA and Western blotting. A three to four-fold increase in EC50 values were obtained for Hypnale hypnale venom towards all the antivenoms tested. Observation of minimal binding specificities towards low and high molecular mass venom proteins are suggestive of the fact that commercially available polyvalent antivenoms failed to detect and bind to the antigenic epitopes of considerable number of proteins present in Hypnale hypnale venom. This highlights the importance of including Hypnale hypnale venom in the immunization mixture while raising antivenoms.

Hump-Nosed Pit Viper Envenomation in Western Coastal India: A Case Series

“…It is clear in all Approximate distance from the hospital: 93 km the 3 cases that administration of Indian polyvalent ASV may actually do more harm than good in HNPV envenomation. 23 Coagulopathy may be corrected with blood products in the presence of life-threatening bleeding manifestations, although the addition of clotting factors may result in an increase of systemic clot burden without prior neutralization of the venom. 24 Severe life-threatening VICC detected early may be treated with therapeutic plasma exchange and replacement of coagulation factors because of the absence of any antivenom.…”

Venom protection by broadly neutralizing antibody from a snakebite subject

“…Each snake produces 5-70 fractions, or unique proteins, in their venom, and there is abundant polymorphism of venom proteins even between individuals of a single snake species 12 . Thus, even if an antibody were discovered for every venom fraction of every venomous snake, it would not be possible to combine all of these antibodies into a single antivenom, as each antibody would be at far too low of a dose to be therapeutically relevant [13][14][15] .…”

Venomics and antivenomics of Indian spectacled cobra (Naja naja) from the Western Ghats

“…Antivenomics could be also used for assessing the immunological cross-reactivity between homologous toxins present within various snake species [24]. Since antivenoms are the only choice available for treating envenomed victims, there is a need in improving the efficacy of the available antivenoms [25,26]. Polyvalent antivenoms in India are manufactured using the pooled venom collected from the 'big four' snake species which includes Naja naja.…”