Page 17 - PR 2014 2016 07 Nuclear Science and Technology

Nuclear Science and Technology | Progress Report 159

related with human whole blood estimation distribution (in the Northern region, the snake
for checking the similarities, a fundamental poison of jararaca is 30 times more potent than
requirement to start the pre-clinical tests of that found in the Southeast region). In this
news drugs. The Energy Dispersive X-Ray Flu- study, the inorganic elements concentration
orescence Technique (EDXRF) was applied to in blood of mice immunized with five different
determine Fe concentrations in whole blood species of Bothrops snake venoms were inves-
samples of twelve mice strains. This procedure tigated using NAA and XRF techniques. These
has been chosen because it requires a small results were compared to human estimates
amount of blood for Fe analyses (ten times to prevent damage, due to toxicity of these
less comparatively to the conventional tests elements in the immunological therapy.
performed in serum), an important condition
when the biological material is scarce (the mice Investigation of the antigen used for
weight is about 20 mg and total body blood is the production of antilonomic serum
1.2 mL). Fe concentration result for C57BL/6J
mice strain (usually used for pre - clinical drug The caterpillar Lonomia obliqua Walker (L. obli-
tests) shows that it is not in agreement with qua) species is very poisonous and has the
human Fe levels estimation. The present re- ability to cause serious and fatal hemorrhagic
sults suggest that A/J and BALB/c strains are effects in humans after contact. In the absence
more suitable. In addition, the possibility to of medical attention, which requires the ad-
select a similar strain as a reference facilitates ministration of antilonomic serum (antidote),
and reduces the cost in pre-clinical tests of it can lead the patient to death in days.
new drugs.
These caterpillars live in forest regions, but
Analytic techniques to assist the anti- can be found in rural areas and in existing
Bothrops serum production in Brazil vegetation in urban areas: mango, avocado,

guava, peach, araticum, ipê, cedar and aroeira.
According to the World Health Organization They have nocturnal habits and live ~ 200
(WHO), the number of deaths by poisonous days. During the day, they are grouped in the
animals in developed countries is significant. trunk, at rest. At night, these caterpillars feed
The situation in Brazil has been monitored by on the leaves of the host plant. Since 1996,
SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos the Butantan Institute (IBu, Research Center,
e Notificação) and currently 400 accidents São Paulo city) produces antilonomic serum
occur every month, of which 80% are due to (antidote), to reverse such effects, using cat-
venomous snakebites of the genus Bothrops. erpillars mainly from Paraná (PR), where the
To meet the large number of incidences, Insti- prevalence of incidents is high. However, in
tuto Butantan (research center, SP city, Brazil) recent years, the expansion and destruction
has produced various types of antivenomous of natural ecosystems provide their growth
including anti-Bothrops serum. However, due in others regions of the country (mainly Santa
to the high diversity of snakes (~380 species), a Catarina, São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul).
large portion of them being venomous, it can Nowadays, the number of accidents more than
sometimes result in an inappropriate antiven- tripled in these regions. Considering that, the
om. In addition, recent investigation showed efficacy and safety of antivenom immuno-
that the Bothrops venom of certain species can therapy is closely related to process control,
vary significantly according to the geographic it is desirable to establish procedures that are