Studies of Brazilian bee venom
Shipman, W.H.; Vick, J.A.
Cutis 19(6): 802-804
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0011-4162 PMID: 872624 Document Number: 117562
Venom from Brazilian honeybees (European Apis mellifera X African Apis mellifera adansonii hybrids) was compared with venom taken from Italian bees in Vermont, USA. Column chromatography was used to separate whole venom into 6 fractions; fraction 3 (containing phospholipase A) of Brazilian venom was twice as heavy as that of Italian venom. Fraction 5 of Brazilian venom was 1.5 times as heavy as had been expected and fraction 6 was 80% of the weight of the same fraction from Italian venom. LD50 values (mg/kg) in mice for Brazilian venom and its fractions 1-5 were: 2.7, non-lethal, non-lethal, 10, 10, 8. For Italian venom, the corresponding values were: 5.6, non-lethal, non-lethal, 8, 7, 5. Results for neuromuscular blocking effects in dogs were similar. The low molecular weight components in fraction 6 were separated into 9 further fractions and their absorbance spectra at 280 nm compared. There were appreciable differences between the 2 venoms, and it is suggested that these may represent a means of identifying A. m. adansonii hybrids. D. G. Lowe.