An Immunological Evaluation of Scorpion Venoms

Abstract

Summary Studies have been presented on the interrelationships existing between scorpion venoms and antisera prepared against these venoms. Experiments designed to demonstrate reactivity of a number of venom samples representing Families Buthidae and Vejovidae have shown that a large number of antigenic fractions are shared among members of both of these Families. Analysis of both the homologous and heterologous systems has shown that the number of antigenic fractions demonstrable in these venoms differ not only in the number of fractions present, but differ also in the degree of antigenicity which these venoms possess for rabbits. The present taxonomic scheme based upon morphological criteria shows little correlation with the serological relationships observed in this investigation.