Saaiman Engelbrecht, Esta L.Naidoo, VinnyBotha, C.J. (Christoffel Jacobus)2024-12-022024-12-022024-05Engelbrecht, E.I.S., Naidoo, V., Botha, C.J. 2024, 'Naja nigricincta nigricincta venom, a murine model. Evaluation of skeletal and cardio-myonecrosis, kidney injury and inflammatory response along with neutralisation efficacy by the SAIMR/SAVP - And EchiTAb-Plus-ICP polyvalent antivenoms', Toxicon, 243, no. 107719, pp. 1-10. https://DOI.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107719.0440-0101 (print)1879-3150 (online)10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107719http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99707DATA AVAILABILITY : No data was used for the research described in the article.African spitting cobra, Naja nigricincta nigricincta (Zebra snake), envenomation is an important cause of snakebite morbidity and mortality in Namibia. The snake is endemic to central and northern Namibia as well as southern Angola. The venom is mainly cytotoxic, resulting in aggressive dermo-necrosis and often accompanied by severe systemic complications. No specific antivenom exists. Rhabdomyolysis, systemic inflammatory response, haemostatic abnormalities, infective necrotising fasciitis as well as acute kidney failure have been documented. Based on murine models, this study assessed SAVP/SAIMR - and EchiTAb-Plus-ICP polyvalent antivenom neutralisation as well as subdermal necrosis. Additional muscle, cardiac, kidney and lung histology, creatine kinase measurements and post-mortems were performed. An intravenous median lethal dose (LD50) of Naja nigricincta nigricincta venom was determined at 18.4 (CI: 16.3; 20.52) μg and a subdermal lethal dose at 15.3(CI: 12.96; 17.74)μg. The SAIMR/SAVP polyvalent antivenom median effective dose (ED50) was 1.2 ml antivenom/1 mg venom equating to a potency (WHO) of 1 ml antivenom neutralising 0.63 mg venom and approximately 240 ml (24 vials) needed for initial treatment. The ED50 of the EchiTAb-Plus-ICP was 1 ml antivenom/1 mg venom and a potency of 65 mg venom/ml antivenom (3.3 x LD50), estimating 230 ml (23 vials) for treatment. Histology and serology (creatine kinase) evidenced venom induced skeletal myotoxicity, which was not prevented by the antivenoms tested. Cardiac myonecrosis, an inflammatory response, direct venom kidney tubular necrosis and cardio-pulmonary failure were documented.en© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.Naja nigricincta nigricinctaSAVP /SAIMR polyvalent antivenomEchiTAb-plus-ICP polyvalent antivenomSkeletal myotoxicityCardiac myonecrosisInflammatory responseKidney tubular necrosisZebra snake (Naja nigricincta nigricincta)African spitting cobraSDG-03: Good health and well-beingSouth African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR)South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP)Article