Effects of Echis carinatus venom on tissue and blood histamine and their relations to local tissue reactions and eosinophil changes

Abstract

Echis carinatus venom acts as a histamine liberator. The venom releases marked amounts of histamine from the rat disphragm preparation, and causes a considerable increase in the level of blood histamine in dogs. The histamine release may be partly responsible for the local tissue reactions produced by the venom. EDTA and Egyptian Polyvalent Antivenin inhibited the release of tissue histamine by the venom and perhaps minimized its severe local reactions. The venom produced insignificant eosinophilic changes unrelated to histamine changes.