Comparative studies on Egyptian elapid venoms.

The immunological properties of Naja haje from Western Desert, Naja haje of the Nile Delta, Naja nigricollis from Upper Egypt and Walternnesia aegyptia from Sinai Desert were compared using horse serum antivenin prepared from the Delta Naja haje venom. All elapid venoms showed very similar precipitin lines with immunodiffusion or immunoelectrophoresis on agar gel. Results of cellulose-acetate electrophoresis showed either different concentration of certain similar protein components or the absence of some major protein fractions. However, different migration and localization of protein components were observed. LD50 of the 4 elapids and their degree of lethality was determined. Naja haje (Delta) antivenin had different degree of neutralization capacity on the investigated elapid venoms. No correlation between immunodiffusion similarities and the degree of neutralization could be deducted.