Immunoglobulin G and F(ab')2 polyvalent antivenoms do not differ in their ability to neutralize hemorrhage, edema and myonecrosis induced by Bothrops asper (terciopelo) snake venom.

The ability of whole immunoglobulin G (IgG) and F(ab')2 polyvalent (Crotalinae) antivenoms to neutralize the hemorrhagic, edema-forming and myotoxic activities of Bothrops asper venom was studied. Both antivenoms were adjusted to the same neutralizing potency against lethal and hemorrhagic activities in experiments where venom and antivenoms were incubated before injection. Thus, in these experimental conditions, differences in the neutralizing ability in experiments involving independent injection of venom and antivenoms would depend mainly on the different pharmacokinetic profiles of whole IgG and F(ab')2 antivenoms. Experiments involving local injection of venom followed by intravenous administration of antivenom at either 0, 15 or 30 min after envenomation did not reveal any significant difference between whole IgG and F(ab')2 products concerning neutralization of hemorrhage, edema and myonecrosis induced by B. asper venom. The three effects were neutralized by antivenoms only to a partial extent and neutralization decreased as the time-lapse between envenomation and antivenom administration increased. Moreover, with the exception of one time-interval, no significant differences in the neutralization of hemorrhage were observed when antivenom was administered by the intramuscular or intraperitoneal route. The results do not support the assumption that F(ab')2 antivenom is more effective than whole IgG antivenom in the neutralization of local hemorrhage, edema and myonecrosis induced by B. asper venom in mice.