Studies of scorpion antivenins. 2. Venom collection and scorpion colony maintenance

This paper describes methods used successfully in a large-scale programme for the collection of scorpion venom. Effective methods were developed for the maintenance of a laboratory colony of over 5000 adult scorpions. Electrical stimulation of the scorpions to induce venom emission was greatly facil...

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Published inBulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 505 - 511
Main Authors WHITTEMORE, Jr, F W, KEEGAN, H L, FITZGERALD, C M, BRYANT, H A, FLANIGAN, J F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland 1963
Subjects
Adult
Animals
Antivenins
Brazil
Humans
India
Israel
Mexico
Scorpion Venoms
Scorpions
Venoms
Brazil
Mexico
Israel
India
SCORPIONS
VENOMS
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Summary:This paper describes methods used successfully in a large-scale programme for the collection of scorpion venom. Effective methods were developed for the maintenance of a laboratory colony of over 5000 adult scorpions. Electrical stimulation of the scorpions to induce venom emission was greatly facilitated by tranquillizing them with CO(2) and using a slightly modified, snap-type mousetrap as a scorpion-holding device. This technique made for rapid handling of specimens with little risk to the technicians and minimal trauma to the scorpions. Specimens held under proper conditions yielded venom from six to eight times at two-week intervals. As much as 66.4% of the venom content of the telson was emitted by an electrically stimulated scorpion. Venom collected in this manner was air-dried at room temperature, then placed in a calcium chloride desiccator and stored at 44 degrees F (6.6 degrees C). Venoms of medically important scorpions from Mexico, Brazil, Israel, India, Panama and the USA were collected during this programme.
Bibliography:These studies were carried out in the Entomology Branch, Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical Field Service School, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, with funds provided for Project No. 6X61-01-001-04 of the United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, Office of The Surgeon General, Washington, D.C.
For the first of these studies, see: Whittemore, F. W., Jr, Keegan, H. L. & Borowitz, J. L. (1961) Bull. Wld Hlth Org., 25, 185.
ISSN:0042-9686