Studies On Egyptian Cerastes-Cerastes Antivenin

A monovalent C. cerastes antivenin was prepared in horses. At the end of the immunization course 1 ml of serum neutralized 92 ld 50 of its homologous venom. Cross neutralization was evident against Cerastes vipera venom (53 ld 50 's per ml serum), but was low against the venoms of Echis carinatus, Bitis gabonica, B. arietans. Dendroaspis polylepis, D. angusticeps, Naja haje, N. nigricollis, N. nivea, N. naja and W. aegyptia (8–20 ld 50 per ml) and there was no protection against T. flavoviridis venom. Precipitation bands obtained by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion studies, gave comparable results showing stronger reaction against the venoms of C. cerastes and C. vipera and weaker reactions against the other venoms.