Ability of polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenom to neutralize local myonecrosis induced by Crotalus atrox venom

Wyeth's polyvalent (Crotalidae) antivenom was tested in mice for its ability to neutralize local myonecrosis induced by crude Crotalus atrox venom. A light microscopic assay was used to quantitate myonecrosis after i.m. injection of antivenom-venom mixtures. The results indicate that antivenom neutralizes the local myotoxicity of up to 15 micrograms venom per g body weight of mice. This neutralization is significantly better than that previously reported for Crotalus viridis viridis venom.