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

Abstract

Abstract. Contact with Lonomia obliqua caterpillars results in a bleeding syndrome characterized by hemorrhage and blood coagulation disturbances. Conventional therapy using antifibrinolytics or cryoprecipitates has been unable to treat pathophysiologic alterations. As antivenoms are effective therapy for treatment of victims of venomous animals, a process of manufacturing a specific antilonomic serum by immunizing horses with Lonomia caterpillar bristle extracts (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 horses. Sera obtained from immunized horses were rich in anti-LBE specific antibodies distributed among the horse IgG isotypes. These antibodies had the ability to recognize various LBE antigens as well as to neutralize their coagulopathy-inducing activity. The antivenom manufactured by the developed process was composed of purified and sterilized F(abЈ) 2 with ED 50 ϭ 38.61 l, potency ϭ 0.29 mg / ml, and 95% confidence limit of potency 0.20-1.36.

Caterpillars and moths

“…97 It should be noted that antifibrinolytics do not work for stings caused by L obliqua and may exacerbate the clinical symptoms. 132,135 Whole blood and fresh-frozen plasma may worsen hemorrhagic symptoms in stings from both species and should be avoided. 97,135 CONCLUSIONS Moths and their caterpillars may cause dermatologic or systemic symptoms in humans.…”

“…An effective antivenin against Lopap has been produced to counteract the hemorrhagic diathesis from L obliqua envenomation. 131,132 It has been successful in preventing severe hemorrhage in two large series of patients, 133,134 and is considered the cornerstone of current therapy. 97 Stings caused by L achelous should be treated with cryoprecipitate, purified fibrinogen, or antifibrinolytic drugs, such as aprotinin and e-aminocaproic acid.…”

New Insight into the Mechanism of <i>Lonomia obliqua</i> Envenoming: Toxin Involvement and Molecular Approach

“…Based on that, some studies were carried out using caterpillars in the 5th instar [38] . Moreover, the anti-lonomic serum is produced in horses at Instituto Butantan using bristle extract from L. obliqua caterpillars in the 5th instar [36] . At this stage, many molecules from the larva play important roles in developmental process, proliferation and wound repair in the late larval period [1] .…”

“…Since then, the Butantan Institute has started to produce and distribute an antilonomic serum (SALon). This serum has proved highly effective in reversing the hemorrhagic syndrome caused by the venom of L. obliqua [33,35,36] . In 2004, Caovilla and Barros demonstrated that low doses of the antilonomic serum were capable of reversing changes in blood coagulation in less than 48 h for the majority of patients with moderate or severe envenoming [37] .…”

A catalog for the transcripts from the venomous structures of the caterpillar Lonomia obliqua: Identification of the proteins potentially involved in the coagulation disorder and hemorrhagic syndrome

“…It appears that our attempt to generate a catalog containing the putative toxic proteins of the caterpillar is an effective approach to generate testable hypotheses on the molecular basis of envenomation. It may help to find candidate proteins for development of a reliable diagnostic kit for this envenomation and for the improvement of serum production (Rocha- Campos et al, 2001;Theakston et al, 2003). SDS-PAGE analysis of L. obliqua bristle and tegument extracts, hemolymph, and cryosecretion.…”