Determination of the neutralizing potency of horse antibothropic and anticrotalic antivenoms in blood samples collected on filter paper

The correlation coefficients between in vivo neutralization of lethal toxic ity (ED50) and levels of antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in blood samples collected on filter paper were investigated to test the potency of horse antibothropic and anticrotalic antivenoms. Si xteen horses were hyperimmunized with Bothrops venom (50% from B. jararaca and 12.5% each from B. alternatus, B. jararacussu, B. neuwiedii and B. mooj eni) and 12 horses with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. Crude venom of C. d. terrificus and the lethal fraction of B. jararaca venom were used as antigens to set up an indirect ELISA. The correlation coefficient between E D50 and ELISA antibodies titers against C d. terrificus and the lethal frac tion of B. jararaca venom was r = 0.8 (P < 0.001) and r = 0.78 (P < 0.001), respectively. <(c)> 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.