AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY (ELISA) THAT DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN THE VENOMS OF BRAZILIAN BOTHROPS SPECIES AND CROTALUS-DURISSUS

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed to detect s pecific antigens from Bothrops sp. and Crotalus durissus snake venoms in Brazil. Cross-reactive immunoglobulins from hyperimmune horse anti- Bothrops and anti-Crotalus sera were removed by immunoaffinity chromat ography. Specific IgGs for Bothrops sp. and C. durissus venom antigens were prepared and used to set up a sandwich-type ELISA. The specifici ty of the assay was demonstrated by its capacity to identify correctly the circulating antigens in mice experimentally inoculated with both venoms. Measurable absorbance signals were obtained with 5 ng of venom per assay. The ELISA was also used to identify circulating antigens i n the sera of humans bitten by Bothrops sp. and C. durissus. These ELI SAs could be valuable for clinicians and epidemiologists if they prove to have both the high sensitivity and specificity required for such t ests. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.