Specific heterologous F(ab ')(2) antibodies revert blood incoagulability resulting from envenoming by Lonomia obliqua caterpillars

Contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillars results in a bleeding syndrome ch aracterized by hemorrhage and blood coagulation disturbances. Conventional therapy using antifibrinolytics or cryoprecipitates has been unable to trea t pathophysiologic alterations. As antivenoms are effective therapy for tre atment of victims of venomous animals, a process of manufacturing a specifi c antilonomic serum by immunizing horses with Lonomia caterpillar bristle e xtracts (LBE) was developed. Lonomia caterpillar bristle extracts exhibited several protein bands on SDS-PAGE, induced blood coagulation abnormalities and lethality in mice, and stimulated specific antibody production in hors es. Sera obtained from immunized horses were rich in anti-LBE specific anti bodies distributed among the horse IgG isotypes. These antibodies had the a bility to recognize various LBE antigens as well as to neutralize their coa gulopathy-inducing activity. The antivenom manufactured by the developed pr ocess was composed of purified and sterilized F(ab')(2) with ED50 = 38.61 m ul, potency = 0.29 mg / ml, and 95% confidence limit of potency 0.20-1.36.