Local effects induced by coral snake venoms: evidence of myonecrosis after experimental inoculations of venoms from five species.

The local effects induced by intramuscular inoculations of venoms from six species of coral snakes were studied in mice. Venoms of Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus, M. n. mosquitensis, M. alleni, M. frontalis, M. carinicauda and M. surinamensis induced prominent myonecrosis which was observed histologically. From a morphological point of view all these venoms induced a similar pattern of myonecrosis, characterized by a conspicuous alteration of the intracellular structure. This myotoxic activity was corroborated by an increase in plasma creatine kinase levels 3 hr after i.m. injection of M. n. nigrocinctus, M. n. mosquitensis, M. frontalis and M. carinicauda venoms. M. mipartitus venom did not induce myonecrosis. None of the venoms induced edema or hemorrhage at the site of injection.