Prospective study of a Bothrops jararacussu venom batch (Bj2015) – phospholipase A₂ activity, immunogenicity, neurotoxicity, and myotoxicity parameters

Abstract

Bothrops jararacussu venom’s (Bj2015) batch was biomonitored quarterly for one year to assess phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity, immunogenicity, neurotoxicity, and myotoxicity. In silico models were applied to evaluate losses using decay model and recoveries by predictive trend analysis. Mice were immunized with Bj2015. Antibodies were detected by double-immunodiffusion and total protein and albumin were measured. Neuromuscular blockade-induced by 40 μg mL⁻¹ venom solution was carried out using mouse nerve phrenic-diaphragm preparation. Resulting muscles were submitted to light microscopy to evaluate the myotoxicity. PLA₂ activity of 0.1 mg mL⁻¹ Bj2015 was measured using 4-nitro-3-(octanoyloxy)benzoic acid as substrate. Over time, greater losses occurred in neurotoxicity than PLA₂, but not in myotoxicity and immunogenicity. Concluding, the neurotoxicity decrease can be related to enzymatic losses, including PLA₂. Depending on the purpose of use, the collected venom responds on a long time, avoiding unnecessary new collections, improving life quality of animals in captivity and increasing their longevity.

Keywords:

• Bothrops jararacussu
• immunogenicity
• myotoxicity
• neurotoxicity
• phospholipase A₂ activity

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Renata Lima (PhD) for your technical assistance, to Pibic/CNPq and Probic/Uniso for fellowships, and to Fapesp – for financial support in all permanent equipments (Fapesp 04/09705-8; 07/53883-6; 08/52643-4; 12/08271-0; 15/01420-9).