THE COMPOSITION OF NAJA-NAJA VENOM SAMPLES FROM 3 DISTRICTS OF WEST-BENGAL, INDIA

The variation in the composition of Naja naja venoms from three neighb ouring districts of West Bengal, eastern India and the corresponding d ifferences in the severity of pathogenesis due to venom composition va riation are reported. These venom samples differ with respect to chrom atographic elution profile and enzyme activity associated with each fr action. Presence of higher quantities of basic phospholipase and plasm a protein hydrolase in the venom samples of Burdwan and Purulia make t hem more toxic than Midnapur venom sample. A polyvalent antivenom manu factured in western India was hardly effective in neutralizing the pat hobiological manifestation of the venom samples from eastern India. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.