LOCAL-EFFECTS INDUCED BY VENOMS FROM 5 SPECIES OF GENUS MICRURUS SP (CORAL SNAKES)

Venoms from five species of Micrurus (coral snakes) from Brazil (Amazo nas State) were tested for the following effects: edematogenic, myotox ic, coagulant, hemorrhagic and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) detection. None of the venoms tested presented coagulant activity. The presence o f PLA(2) was detected by ELISA in the venoms of M. spixii, M. averyi a nd M. lemniscatus. The myotoxicity was estimated by the increase in th e serum creatine kinase level and by histological analysis. All venoms , except that from M. surinamensis, induced intense edematogenic and m yotoxic effects. The venom of M. averyi showed hemorrhagic activity wh ich was confirmed by histopathological analysis. This is the first evi dence of such an effect by coral snake venom.