Thrombin-like and factor X-activator components of Bothrops snake venoms.

A comparative study on the coagulant activity of snake venoms was carried out in 26 Bothrops species, using specific clotting systems for the thrombin-like and the factor X-activator activities. With only two exceptions (B. erythromelas and B. castelnaudi) all venoms showed thrombin-like activity, since they were able to clot fibrinogen directly. The absence of thrombin-like action of B. erythromelas venom is due to a fibrinogenolytic effect. Five venoms (B. atrox asper, B. bilineatus bilineatus, B. cotiara, B. fonsecai and B. itapetiningae) were unable to produce a prothrombin activator when preincubated with serum, factor V, and phospholipid. None of the venoms seems to require factors VII, VIII, IX, XII and XIII for their complete coagulant action. Direct prothrombin activation was observed in most of the Bothrops venoms, alone or combined with thrombin-like and factor X-activator activities. An anticoagulant activity was exhibited by B. castelnaudi venom, probably due to an anti-Xa action. This study points out that the coagulant activity of snake venoms varies within the same genus and must be characterized for each species. Thus, in Bothrops venoms the thrombin-like and factor X-activator components are not always associated, the coagulant effect may be related only to one of the components.