Assessment of the toxicity assay as a substitute of the mouse lethality assay in the determination of venom-induced toxicity and preclinical efficacy of antivenom.

Mice are routinely used in snake venom research but are costly and subject to pain and suffering. The crustacean could be an alternative to mice, but data to support its adoption in snake venom research is limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of as a surrogate of mice in assessing the toxicity of venoms and the preclinical efficacy of antivenoms. The toxicity of venoms from 22 snakes of medical importance in sub-Saharan Africa was evaluated in mice (intraperitoneally; i.p. and intravenously; i.v.) and in . Subsequently, the capacity of a commercial antivenom to neutralize the toxicity of these venoms in mice and was investigated. There was a positive correlation between the i.v. median lethal doses (LD) and the i.p. LD in mice (r = 0.804; p < 0.0001) a moderate correlation between the i.v. LD in mice and the median lethal concentrations (LC) in (r = 0.606; p = 0.003) and a moderate correlation between the i.p. LD in mice and the LC in r = 0.426; p = 0.048). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the i.p. median effective doses (ED) and the i.v. ED in mice (r = 0.941, p < 0.0001) between the i.p. ED in mice and the ED in (r = 0.818, p < 0.0001) and between the i.v. ED in mice and the ED in (r = 0.972, p < 0.0001). These findings present as a promising candidate for reducing reliance on mice in snake venom research. Future investigations should build upon these findings, addressing potential limitations and expanding the scope of in venom research and antivenom development.