Two snakebite antivenoms have potential to reduce Eswatini's dependency upon a single, increasingly unavailable product: Results of preclinical efficacy testing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Snakebite is a major public health concern in Eswatini, where treatment relies upon one antivenom-SAIMR Polyvalent. Although effective in treating snakebite, SAIMR Polyvalent is difficult to source outside its manufacturing country (South Africa) and is dauntingly expensive. We compared the preclinical venom-neutralising efficacy of two alternative antivenoms with that of SAIMR Polyvalent against the lethal and tissue-destructive effects of venoms from five species of medically important snakes using in vivo murine assays. The test antivenoms were 'Panafrican' manufactured by Instituto Clodomiro Picado and 'PANAF' manufactured by Premium Serums & Vaccines.

Principal findings

In vivo murine preclinical studies identified both test antivenoms were equally or more ef

SUBMITTER: Menzies SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9529146 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature