Pathologic changes induced by phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of Collett's snake, Pseudechis colletti: a light and electron microscopic study.

Pseudechis colletti is an Australian elapid snake with a range limited to central Queensland, Australia. The venom of this snake, as well as that of several other Australian elapids, has been shown to contain a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) which can cause a marked myoglobinuria in mice. Few studies have described the histopathologic and ultrastructural changes that result from myotoxic PLA2-induced damage. Our investigation demonstrated that the isolated PLA2 induced myodegeneration and necrosis in myocardium in a dose-related manner, with subsequent myoglobinuria and myoglobinuric nephropathy.