Immunological properties of antivenins. II. Univalent Naja haje antivenin.

A purified Naja haje antivenin was tested against Egyptian N. haje and N. nigricollis venoms, Indian N. naja venom, Iranian N. naja oxiana, Vipera lebetina, and V. persica venoms, and Echis carinatus venom from both Iran and Egypt. The different elapid venoms, with the exception of that of N. naja oxiana, showed a considerable number of identical and similar precipitin components by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. On the other hand, only a few identical and partially identical lines were detected when this antiserum was tested against the viper venoms. Cross neutralization tests in mice showed variable degrees of protection by the antiserum against the different venoms studied; there was no direct correlation with the immunodiffusion results.