Alternative methods for potency evaluation for Bothrops venom and antivenom: applications and perspectives for quality control

Abstract

Introduction: Accidents with venomous animals are classified as neglected tropical diseases and are currently the most frequent cause of intoxication in humans in Brazil. The only available treatment is the rapid administration of specific, quality-assured antivenoms. To ensure the efficacy and safety of these products, in vivo potency determination tests for venom and antivenom are performed during the production stages, until final release. Despite several studies on alternative methods to the murine assay, no method has been effectively validated. Objective: To compile alternative methods developed for Bothrops antivenoms, assessing the availability of the methods and the prospects and applications in Bothrops venom and antivenom production and quality control laboratories. Method: A search was conducted in PubMed, BVS, and Scopus databases between November 2021 and June 2022. 89 articles were identified, of which 31 were selected according to the eligibility criteria. Results: We observed in the alternative methods identified a preference of 42.80% of the studies for methodologies that use cell lines as an alternative method to the murine assays, and most of these works (58.30%) opted for a VERO cell line. Conclusions: Due to the diversity of toxins found in each genus of snakes, it is understood that the potency assay for antivenoms should be based on the evaluation and precise quantification of the inhibition of biological activity of venoms. Cytotoxicity assays are widely used and have been accumulating evidence of their suitability as an important alternative tool to the murine assay for quality control for Bothrops venom and antivenom.