Evaluation of the properties of Bungarus caeruleus venom and checking the efficacy of antivenom used in Bangladesh for its bite treatment
Md Jahangir Alam,
Md.Mahmudul.Hasan Maruf,
Md Asif Iqbal,
Mahedi Hasan,
Md Sohanur.Rahman Sohan,
Md Ragib Shariar,
Ibrahim Khalil Al Haidar,
Mohammad Abdul Wahed Chowdhury,
Aniruddha Ghose,
Kazi Md Faisal Hoque,
Md Abu Reza
Affiliations
Md Jahangir Alam
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md.Mahmudul.Hasan Maruf
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md Asif Iqbal
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Mahedi Hasan
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md Sohanur.Rahman Sohan
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md Ragib Shariar
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Ibrahim Khalil Al Haidar
Venom Research Centre, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, 4203, Bangladesh; Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, 4331, Bangladesh
Mohammad Abdul Wahed Chowdhury
Venom Research Centre, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, 4203, Bangladesh; Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chattogram, 4331, Bangladesh
Aniruddha Ghose
Venom Research Centre, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, 4203, Bangladesh; Department of Medicine, Chittagong Medical College, Chattogram, 4203, Bangladesh
Kazi Md Faisal Hoque
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh
Md Abu Reza
Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.
As a disaster-prone country with unique geographical features, snake biting is a major public health concern in Bangladesh. The primary reasons of mortality from snakebite include late presentation to the hospital, low efficacy of antivenom, and a lack of adequate management facilities. Because snake venom characteristics vary depending on geographical location, antivenom should be manufactured from snakes native to the region in which it would be administered. Bungarus caeruleus is a highly venomous snake contributing to the major snakebite issue in Bangladesh. Therefore, the neutralization efficacy of the antivenom against B. caeruleus venom was evaluated in the current study along with the characterization of venom. For biological characterization of venom, RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE profiling, hemolytic activity, hemorrhagic activity, phospholipases A2 (PLA2) activity, edema inducing activity and histopathological observations were carried out following standard protocol. LD50 of the venom was calculated along with neutralization potency of Incepta antivenom through probit analysis. Results showed that venom possesses phospholipase A2 activity, hemolytic activity and edema inducing activity while hemorrhagic activity was absent in the skin of envenomed mice. Histopathological alterations including necrosis, congestion and infiltrations were observed in envenomed mice organs after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Neutralization study showed that Incepta polyvalent antivenom could neutralize (potency 0.53 mg/ml) the lethal effect in in vitro study on mice. Further investigation on snakebite epidemiology and clinical observations of the envenomed patients will help in combating the snakebite problem more efficiently.
