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

R M B Nogueira,M Melero,C B Laposy,F Sangiorgio,M Sakate

doi:10.1590/s1678-91992007000400010

R M B Nogueira, M Melero + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-91992007000400010

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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.

Highlights

The present study aimed at evaluating clinical and laboratory aspects during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum
Group I received 1mg/kg venom; Group II received 1mg/kg venom, 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution (iv); and Group III received 1mg/kg venom, 50mg antiophidic serum (iv), and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/kg
Animals were divided into three groups of seven animals each, Group I: animals inoculated with crotalic venom (1mg/kg); Group II: animals inoculated with crotalic venom (1mg/kg) and treated with antiophidic serum (50mg) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution 6h after venom inoculation (AV); Group III: animals inoculated with crotalic venom (1mg/kg), and treated with antiophidic serum (50mg) and fluid therapy including 0.9% NaCl solution containing sodium bicarbonate diluted to the dose of 4mEq/Kg 6h after venom inoculation (AV)

Summary

Introduction

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed at evaluating clinical and laboratory aspects during experimental envenomation by Crotalus durissus terrificus in dogs treated with antiophidic serum. B. Nogueira et al EXPERIMENTAL ENVENOMATION WITH Crotalus durissus terrificus VENOM IN DOGS TREATED WITH ANTIOPHIDIC SERUM – PART I: CLINICAL EVALUATION, HEMATOLOGY AND MYELOGRAM. The genus Crotalus is of great importance as the venom of its members causes severe clinical aspects and most of the times can be fatal when treatment with specific anti-serum is not quickly instituted [10, 12].

Results

Conclusion