Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms

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  Image Credit: Creative Commons (some rights reserved) CC BY-NC Photo 111998430, (c) Nicholas Hess Differential Hematotoxic Activity of Southeast Asian Pit Viper Venoms: The Cross-Neutralizing Effect of Available Antivenoms Abstract Background/Objectives : Pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae) are responsible for a large proportion of snakebite envenoming cases in Southeast Asia. Envenomation by these snakes commonly causes hematotoxic effects, including platelet dysfunction and coagulation disturbances. Although antivenom remains the mainstay of treatment, species-specific antivenoms are not available for several regional pit viper species. This study evaluated the hematotoxic activities of selected Southeast Asian pit viper venoms and the cross-neutralizing capacity of commercially available antivenoms.  Methods : Venoms from five medically important pit viper species— Calloselasma rhodostoma ,  Trimeresurus albolabris ,  T. hageni ,  T. purpureomaculatus , ...

Integrated morphological, molecular, and immunopathological characterization of Raillietina hymenolepidoides from Psammomys obesus reveals potent in vitro anthelmintic activity of Androctonus crassicauda venom

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By Per-Anders Olsson - Per-Anders Olsson (used with permission), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79273

Integrated morphological, molecular, and immunopathological characterization of Raillietina hymenolepidoides from Psammomys obesus reveals potent in vitro anthelmintic activity of Androctonus crassicauda venom

Abstract

Rodent-borne cestodes of the genus Raillietina include several poorly characterized species with potential zoonotic relevance, yet their molecular identity, host–parasite interactions, and susceptibility to alternative anthelmintic agents remain inadequately understood. Here, we present an integrated morphological, ultrastructural, molecular, immunopathological, and experimental evaluation of Raillietina hymenolepidoides naturally infecting the fat sand rat (Psammomys obesus) in Egypt. Adult cestodes were identified using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing, confirming species identity and revealing close phylogenetic affinity to Raillietina mahnerti. Histopathological analysis of infected hosts demonstrated severe intestinal epithelial degeneration, necrosis, and Peyer’s patch hyperplasia, accompanied by pulmonary emphysematous changes. Immunohistochemical profiling revealed increased CD56⁺ natural killer cell infiltration alongside reduced CD68⁺ macrophage and TGF-β expression, indicating altered local immune regulation during chronic infection. In parallel, the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Androctonus crassicauda crude venom was assessed against adult cestodes, revealing time-dependent tegumental disruption, microtriche erosion, proglottid detachment, and parasite death, as visualized by scanning electron microscopy. Collectively, these findings provide the first comprehensive molecular confirmation of R. hymenolepidoides in P. obesus in Egypt and demonstrate the pronounced in vitro cestocidal effects of scorpion venom. The study highlights the value of integrative parasitological approaches and supports further investigation of venom-derived compounds as potential leads for novel anthelmintic development.

Anwar, F.A.S., Alkenani, N.A., Abd-elghaffar, S.K. et al. Integrated morphological, molecular, and immunopathological characterization of Raillietina hymenolepidoides from Psammomys obesus reveals potent in vitro anthelmintic activity of Androctonus crassicauda venom. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43187-3