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California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi) blood sera inhibits crotalid venom proteolytic activity
J E Biardi1, R G Coss, D G Smith
1Department of Psychology and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
|February 15, 2000
Abstract:
Some California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) show limited necrosis following envenomation by northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis oreganus). This study demonstrates that S. beecheyi blood sera inhibits venom proteases. Sera from rattlesnake-abundant habitats inhibited C. v. oreganus venom more effectively than venom from two allopatric rattlesnake species, C. v. viridis and C. atrox, suggesting evolutionary specialization. The pattern of inhibition among squirrel populations corresponds best with history of rattlesnake predation, in contrast to current rattlesnake density.