Study about systematics of the species and subspecies of the saw-scaled viper (ECHIS) has not come with decisive results. Latifi (2000) recorded only one subspecies of saw scaled viper ECHIS carinatus sochureki Stemmler 1969 from Iran. For analysis systematic status of this genus, 47 specimens from the Gheshm, Bandarabas, Turan, Shiraz, Damghan, Zabol and Tabas were examined based on 12 meristic, six morphologic and two morphometric characters. Statistically significant difference demonstrated between the south populations (Gheshm and Bandarabas) and central north populations (Turan and Tabas) based on ventrals (P<0.001), obliques (P<0.002), dorsals (P<0.001) and circumorbitals (P<0.001). Hotelling T2 test (permutation with 2000 randomzation) showed significant differences between mean vectors of the characters in the mentioned populations (P<0.005). Principles coordinate analysis (PCO) of the our specimens in compare with E. c. sochureki from Pakistan and Afghanistan and E. multisquamatus cherline 1981 from Middle east and Afghanistan ordinate the south populations with the E. c. sochureki and the central-north population with E. multisquamatus. Cluster analysis classified the central-north population with E. multisquamatus specimens, that described by Cherlin, in the same cluster.

Snakebite is a common problem especially in tropical areas all over the world includingIran. ECHIS carinatus as one of the most dangerous Iranian snakes is spreading in this countryexcluding central and northwest provinces. In this study gelatinase and fibrinogenolyticproperties as two disintegrating matrix metalloproteinase enzymes were evaluated by a strongclear halo between 56-72 kDa in addition to another band located 76-102 kDa for gelatinase andone major band around 38 kDa for fibrinogenolytic enzyme respectively. The electrophorectcprofile of our venom demonstrated at least one protein band between 24-31 kDa like previousreports and another two bands between 52-76 kDa and below 17 kDa stemmed probably due tothe effect of natural selection in one species. According to our results Razi institute antivenincould neutralize in-vitro effects of gelatinase enzyme comprehensively. The electrophoreticprofile of Iranian commercial antivenom as the main intravenous treatment of envenomedpatients showed impurities in addition to F (abʹ )2 weighing 96 kDa in SDS-PAGE analysis. Itproposes more efforts for refinement to avoid short and long unwanted effects in envenomedpatients.

Saw-Scaled viper (ECHIS carinatus) is one of the most dangerous and poisonous snakes found in Iran and is responsible to many cases of envenomations resulted to the death in the world. The present study was conducted to study the effects of the venom of this snake on birds. To perform this task, 4 individuals of the viper were collected from their natural habitat and kept alive within a televarium. For experimental animals we selected 16 birds (8 males and 8 females) of Melopsittacus undulatus. The birds were released one by one into televarium and bitten by the snakes. The snake-bitten birds were then scrutinized in terms of behavioral reactions and histological changes occurred in their lung and liver. The venom of ECHIS carinatus was found to cause pain, edema, severe hemorrhage and dissociation of cells tissue. Both local and systemic effects of this snake venom have been associated with the action of a variety of venom components which include metalloproteinases and ecarin.

Venomous snakebite is a life-threatening injury in many tropical and subtropical areas including Iran. The gold standard treatment option for human envenomation is the use of antivenoms. Despite the unique effects of horsederived antivenoms on the treatment of snakebite, they are not fully perfect and need improvements. In this study, human recombinant Fab fragment antivenom was produced in Rosetta-g bacterium using a gene library constructed in the previous study. The prepared Fab was purified in several steps, desalted, and lipopolysaccharide-depleted using ammonium sulfate solution and dialysis against phosphate buffer and Triton X-114 solution, respectively. Subsequently, the product was initially confirmed by the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Finally, the neutralization potency of the product was investigated in laboratory Syrian Mice. The obtained results showed corresponding reduced bands to Fab fragment with the molecular weight of about 28 kDa at a concentration of 3. 1 mg/ml. There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of ELISA test (P<0. 05). The neutralization potency of the product against the venom of ECHIS carinatus (E. carinatus) was about 7 LD50/ml (54. 6 μ g/ml) when tested on mice. Based on the results, the Fab fragment antivenom had the ability to neutralize the in vivo biological activity of the venom of Iranian E. carinatus. However, further studies are recommended to reach a suitable concentration of antivenom fragment.

Although some venoms and their isolated compounds have been shown to have antibacterial properties, most have not been investigated for such activity. ECHIS carinatus is one of the most venomous snakes in the world and has an effective haematotoxic venom that destroys endothelial cells and causes haemorrhagia.In this study, the antibacterial activity of Iranian snake ECHIS carinatus venom against six different bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7), were investigated. Crude venom (100mg/ml) and different standard antibiotic disks as positive controls were tested by the gel diffusion method. Since the results showed that ECHIS carinatus venom has a significant antibacterial effect against S. aureus and MRSA, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were also determined for these two susceptible bacteria: this was 80mg ml-1 against both strains. Also, the results determined that ECHIS carinatus venom dose not have a noticeable effect on other tested bacteria.

Objective (s): Snake venoms contain complex mixture of proteins with biological activities. Some of these proteins affect blood coagulation and platelet function in different ways. Snake venom toxin may serve as a starting material for drug design to combat several pathophysiological problems such as cardiovascular disorders. In the present study, purification of anticoagulation factor from venom of snake (ECHIS carinatus) was studied. Anticoagulation activity of crude venom, fractions and purified peptide were determined by using prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT). Three fractions were partially purified from the venom of E. Carinatus by gel filtration on sephadex G-75 and final purification was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with C18 column. A purified anticoagulant factor was derived which showed a single protein band in SDS-PAGE electrophoresis under reducing condition. Results of PT and TT tests for purified peptide (EC217) were found to be 102±4.242 and<5 min. respectively. Determination of molecular weight revealed that the active purified peptide (EC217) was about 30 KD. In conclusion, the present study showed that the venom of E. carinatus contains at least one anticoagulant factor.

Background and Objectives: ECHIS carinatus venom is a complex mixture of toxins. This venom contains metalloproteinases which convert prothrombin to meizothrombin. The prothrombin activator leads to the formation of small blood clots inside the blood vessels throughout the body. To understand the effect mechanism of Iranian ECHIS carinatus venom, in this study we investigated the effect of EV on human plasma proteins (prothrombin and fibrinogen) and on blood coagulation. The aim was the purification and characterization of procoagulant factor from the Iranian ECHIS Carinatus venom and the evaluation of the procoagulant activity on human plasma.Materials and Methods: Crude venom from the Iranian snake species E. carinatus was selected. The prothrombin activator was purified from the crude venom of ECHIS carinatus by combination of the procedures by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and reverse phase HPLC. Electrophoresis on 12.5% polyacrylamide gel was performed.Results: The Iranian E. carinatus venom was able to coagulate human plasma very rapidly. The coagulation time was reduced from 13.4 seconds (SD=±0.59) to 8.6 seconds (SD=±0.64) when human plasma was treated with crude venom (concentraion of venom was 1 mg/ml).Conclusions: The venom of Iranian ECHIS carinatus contains procoagulant factors. It seems the fraction F1B4 isolated from IEc to be like coagulation proteins which coagulate human plasma very rapidly in vitro.