Effects of Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom on hemogram and erythrocyte osmotic fragility and study the role of polyvalent antivenom in rat

Scorpion stings are responsible for a number of deaths in infants, children and adults in developing countries all over the world. This study was carried out in order to study the pathogenesis of Hemiscorpius lepturus as the most dangerous scorpions of Khuzestan province, its effects on hemogram and erythrocyte osmotic fragility, and the role of polyvalent antivenom on these changes in rats. For those aims 90 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 equal groups randomly (group A, B, C, D and E). Group A were injected with normal saline as control group. Group B were injected with 1 mg/kg of venom ipIP. Group C, D and E were injected with the same amount of the venom and polyvalent antivenom 0.5ml/rat im. The antivenom were injected 20 minutes after venom in group C, 20 and 60 minutes after venom in group D and along with the venom in group E. Blood samples were collected from all groups (6 rats at each time) in 1, 3 and 24 hours after venom injection. Blood samples were used for complete blood count (CBC) and assessment of the erythrocyte osmotic fragility. There were significant changes in the hemogram (RBC count, PCV, Hb, WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte) and the erythrocyte osmotic fragility after venom injection in group B compared to the control group. The results showed that administration of polyvalent antivenom in different methods can reduce the changes of hemogram and osmotic fragility in antivenom treated groups.