Intraspecific variability of the Central American rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) venom and its usefulness to obtain a representative standard venom.

Snake venoms are mixtures of proteins whose physicochemical features confer them toxicity and immunogenicity. Animals (e.g.

Expanding the neutralization scope of the Central American antivenom (PoliVal-ICP) to include the venom of Crotalus durissus pifanorum.

The proteomic, enzymatic, toxicological, and immunogenic profiles of the venom of C. d. pifanorum were studied.

Morphological alterations caused by manual venom extraction on the main venom gland of Bothrops asper and Crotalus simus snakes (Serpentes: Viperidae): Long-term implications for antivenom production.

The only scientifically validated treatment for snakebite envenomation is the administration of antivenoms. For their production, small quantities of snake venom are injected in animals to elicit a specific antibody response. Snakes are kept in captivity, and their venom is regularly extracted to assure antivenom access.

Differences in plasmatic butyrylcholinesterases (BChE) values between Pacific and Caribbean populations of terciopelo () in Costa Rica.

The terciopelo () inhabits human-modified environments such as agricultural areas, becoming more prone to be exposed to organophosphate insecticides. These chemicals can inhibit plasmatic butyrylcholinesterases (BChE) activity in . Caribbean and Pacific populations of belong to two divergent lineages that exhibit robust genetic partitioning; however, differences across versants in biochemistry and hematology have not yet been examined, especially in BChE variations.

First look into the venom of Roatan Island's critically endangered coral snake Micrurus ruatanus: Proteomic characterization, toxicity, immunorecognition and neutralization by an antivenom.

A proteomic and toxicological study of the venom from one specimen of Micrurus ruatanus, a critically endangered coral snake species endemic to Roatan Island, Honduras, was carried out. Immunorecognition and neutralization of venom lethality by an anticoral antivenom was also evaluated. Forty peaks were collected from RP-HPLC fractionation of the venom.

Effect of exposition to chlorpyrifos upon plasmatic cholinesterases, hematology and blood biochemistry values in Bothrops asper (Serpentes: Viperidae).

The terciopelo (Bothrops asper), is one of the most important venomous snakes in Costa Rica and common on agriculture where insecticides are frequently used for pest control. To assess the exposure to organophosphates on captive B. asper, an experiment using chlorpyrifos and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), as a biomarker was conducted.

Contributions of the snake venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys to the paraspecificity of the Central American polyspecific antivenom (PoliVal-ICP).

PoliVal-ICP antivenom is produced from plasma of horses immunized toward the venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys. The antibody response induced by these venoms confers PoliVal-ICP the capacity to neutralize the venoms of the most important Central American viperids, including not only homologous venoms (i.e.

Integrated "omics" profiling indicates that miRNAs are modulators of the ontogenetic venom composition shift in the Central American rattlesnake, Crotalus simus simus.

Background: Understanding the processes that drive the evolution of snake venom is a topic of great research interest in molecular and evolutionary toxinology. Recent studies suggest that ontogenetic changes in venom composition are genetically controlled rather than environmentally induced. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain elusive.

Maintaining Coral Snakes (Micrurus nigrocinctus, Serpentes: Elapidae) for venom production on an alternative fish-based diet.

American Elapid snakes (Coral Snakes) comprise the genera Leptomicrurus, Micruroides and Micrurus, which form a vast taxonomic assembly of 330 species distributed from the South of United States to the southern region of South America. In order to obtain venom for animal immunizations aimed at antivenom production, Coral Snakes must be kept in captivity and submitted periodically to venom extraction procedures. Thus, to maintain a snake colony in good health for this purpose, a complete alternative diet utilizing an easily obtained prey animal is desirable.