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. 2018 Sep 27:2018:7358472.
doi: 10.1155/2018/7358472. eCollection 2018.

The Venom of Spectacled Cobra (Elapidae: Naja naja): In Vitro Study from Distinct Geographical Origins in Sri Lanka

Duminda S B Dissanayake  1 , Lasanthika D Thewarage  1 , Roshitha N Waduge  2 , J G S Ranasinghe  3 , S A M Kularatne  4 , R P V Jayanthe Rajapakse  1
Affiliations

The Venom of Spectacled Cobra (Elapidae: Naja naja): In Vitro Study from Distinct Geographical Origins in Sri Lanka

Duminda S B Dissanayake et al. J Toxicol. .

Abstract

Several countries residing envenomation due to Naja naja had revealed a disparity in the venom composition according to their geographic location and Sri Lankan cobra still lacks the evidence to support this. Therefore, the current study was focused on addressing relationship between the histopathological changes according to geographic variation of Sri Lankan N. naja venom. The histopathological changes in vital organs and muscle tissues following intramuscular administration of venom of N. naja were studied using BALB/c mice. The median lethal dose of venom of N. naja in the present study was determined to be 0.55, 0.66, 0.68, 0.62, and 0.7 mg/kg for North (NRP), Central (CRP), Western, Southern, and Sabaragamuwa Regional Population venoms, respectively. Histopathological changes were observed in different levels in vital organs and muscle tissues of mice. NRP accompanied significantly higher infiltration of inflammatory and necrotic cells into skeletal muscle and CRP venom demonstrated high level of cardiotoxic effects comparing to other regions. This study revealed a certain extent of variations in the pathological effects of N. naja venom samples according to their geographical distribution.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Spectacled cobra (Naja naja); (a) distinct hood and (b) spectacle pattern on the hood.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The schematic representation of the collection localities of Indian cobra venom samples.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histopathological changes in cardiac muscles, after 3hr from injection of N. naja venom from (a) Western Region Population, (b) Central Region Population, (c) North Region Population, (d) Sabaragamuwa Region Population, (e) Southern Region Population, and (f) Control. (A) Congestion. (B) Necrotic fibers. (C) Inflammations.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histopathological changes in lung tissues, after 3hr from injection of N. naja venom from (a) Western Region Population, (b) Central Region Population, (c) North Region Population, (d) Sabaragamuwa Region Population, (e) Southern Region Population, and (f) Control. (A) Alveolar haemorrhages. (B) Interstitial septal widening.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Histopathological changes in kidney, after 3hr from injection of N. naja venom from (a) Western Region Population, (b) Central Region Population, (c) North Region Population, (d) Sabaragamuwa Region Population, (e) Southern Region Population, and (f) Control. (A) Acute tubular necrosis. (B) Congestion.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Histopathological changes in liver, after 3hr from injection of N. naja venom from (a) Western Region Population, (b) Central Region Population, (c) North Region Population, (d) Sabaragamuwa Region Population, (e) Southern Region Population, and (f) Control. (A) Lytic necrosis. (B) Hepatocyte degeneration. (C) Zonal hepatocellular necrosis.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) activity.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) activity.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Serum Creatine Kinase (CK) activity.
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