Toxicological study of bee venom (Apis mellifera mellifera) from different regions of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Samples of Apis mellifera mellifera venom from different hives in two regions of the Buenos Aires province and its pool were analyzed for their lethal potency, myotoxic, defibrinogenating, hemolytic and inflammatory-edematizing activity and for the histological alterations they produce in the heart, lungs, kidneys, skeletal muscle and liver of mice. In vitro studies focused on the venom's hemolytic activity in different systems and species (horse, man, sheep and rabbit), the cytotoxicity in cellular lines, and on the proteolytic and coagulant activity in plasma and fibrinogen. Hemolytic activity, either observed in vitro or in vivo, showed similar toxicity levels for all samples.

Study on the obtaining of Tityus trivittatus venom in Argentina.

Envenomation by scorpions of the genus Tityus is an important public health problem in Argentina, involving near 8000 stings and 2 deaths each year. Treatment for envenomation is the use of specific antivenom and intensive hospital care. Antivenom is produced by the Ministry of Health and freely distributed throughout the country.

Epidemiology of snakebite and use of antivenom in Argentina.

Background: The incidence and case fatality rate of snakebite in Argentina are poorly known.

Methods: The authors used questionnaires provided with antivenoms by the primary manufacturer of anti-venoms in Argentina.

Results: A total of 8083 completed questionnaires was collected between 1978 and 1998.

Envenoming by coral snakes (Micrurus) in Argentina, during the period between 1979-2003.

Envenomation by coral snakes (Micrurus sp.) is one of the most dangerous injuries in America and it is considered as a serious medical emergency, however bites by these snakes appear to be rare. We analyzed epidemiological data, clinical signs and antivenom use in Argentina during the period between 1979-2003.

[Biological and immunological characteristics of the poison of Bothrops cotiara (Serpentes: Viperidae)].

Bothrops cotiara is a venomous snake sporadically found in the province of Misiones in Argentina, South of Brazil and Paraguay. Data on the clinics of the envenomation produced by its bite and on its venom are scarce. There is no information on the neutralizing capacity of the antivenoms available.

[Toxicity of venoms from snakes of medical importance in México].

The characterization of the toxic activities of snake venoms is necessary to understand the physiopathology of the envenomation and to test the potency of the antivenoms used to treat this pathology. Because of the lack of data on the toxic activities of venoms from Mexican snakes of medical importance, we studied the venoms from Bothrops asper, Athropoides nummifrr, Agkistrodon billineatus, Crotalus durissus durissus, Crotalus basiliscus, Crotalus scutulatus, Crotalus atrox and Micrurus nigrocinctus. The studies performed were: SDS-PAOE, determination of lethal potency, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, coagulation on plasma and fibrinogen, phospholipasic and fibri(noge)nolytic activities.

Effectiveness of two common antivenoms for North, Central, and South American Micrurus envenomations.

Micrurus snakes (coral snakes) may produce severe envenomation that can lead to death by peripheral respiratory paralysis. Only few laboratories produce specific antivenoms, and despite the cross-reactivity found in some Micrurus species venoms, the treatment is not always effective. To test two therapeutic antivenoms against the venom of four species of Micrurus from Southern America, North of South America, Central America, and North America, the determination of the lethal potency of the venoms, the study of some biochemical and immunochemical characteristics, and the determination of the neutralizing activity of both antivenoms were studied.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of scorpionism by Tityus trivittatus in Argentina.

This is a descriptive study of epidemiological and clinical aspects of stings caused by the scorpion Tityus trivittatus in Argentina. We analyzed 511 cases recorded from different health centers in 22 provinces. Most accidents took place during the period November-April (76%), in or nearby houses (86%).