Ability of polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenin to neutralize myonecrosis, hemorrhage and lethality induced by timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) venom.

The local and lethal effects of crude Crotalus horridus horridus venom were quantitated and the ability of polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenin to neutralize these effects was studied. A light microscopy assay was used to measure myonecrosis, a new method based on the amount of hemoglobin present in the injected muscle was used to measure hemorrhage and the LD50 was used as a measure of lethality. Results indicate that polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenin significantly neutralized myonecrosis in mice at venom doses of 3.0 and 6.0 micrograms/g, hemorrhage at doses of venom up to 12.0 micrograms/g, and lethality at a dose equivalent to 2.5 times the LD50.