Hemorrhagic and edema-forming activity and histologic changes in the mouse footpad induced by venoms from Argentinian Bothrops and Crotalus genuses

Hemorrhagic, oedema-forming activities and histopathological alterations in the mouse footpad induced by Bothrops and Crotalus snake venoms from Argentina. Hemorrhagic and oedema-forming activities of various Bothrops and Crotalus snake venoms from Argentina were studied, together with histological alterations in the mouse footpad. The highest oedema-forming activity was found in the venom of B. jararaca, followed by B. jararacussu, B. neuwiedii diporus, B. alternatus, and Crotalus durissus terrificus. Regarding hemorrhage, the highest activity was found in the venom of B. neuwiedii diporus, followed by B. jararacussu, B. alternatus, and B. jararaca. No hemorrhage was observed after injection of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, in agreement with histological observations of injected footpads. Histological analysis revealed a conspicuous inflammatory reaction in the injected footpad, characterized by oedema and an inflammatory infiltrate rich in polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Necrotic blood vessels and dilated lymphatic vessels were observed after injection of B. jararaca and B. jararacussu venoms, and myonecrosis was evident in tissue of mice injected with B. alternatus and B. neuwiedii diporus.