Immunological and histochemical identity of esterases and other antigens in elapid venoms.

Abstract

Antibodies were prepared by hyperimmunizing rabbits with Naja naja, Bungarus fasciatus, Agkistrodon piscivorus and Apis mellifera (honeybee) venoms. By using immuno-electrophoresis, Ouchterlony technique and histochemical reactions, the identity of certain antigenic components and esterases in several elapid venoms has been demonstrated. There are a number of precipitin lines of identity for venom components in Naja species, while venoms of Bungarus , Dendroaspis , Micrurus , Bitis and Agkistrodon species gave mostly lines of non-identity or no precipitin lines with Naja naja antiserum. Further, it has been shown that several of the esterases present in Naja species are immunologically identical, while esterases from Dendroaspis, Micrurus, Bitis, Agkistrodon species and bee venom are not immunologically identical to those in the Naja species venoms.