Toxicity of scorpion (Buthus tamulus) venom in mammals is influenced by the age and species.

The present study was undertaken to determine the toxicity of scorpion (Buthus tamulus) venom in young and adult rats, as well as in different species of adult animals (rats, mice and guinea-pigs). The median lethal dose (LD50; mg/kg s.c.) of scorpion venom in young and adult rats was 2.2 +/- 0.21 and 1.3 +/- 0.14, respectively. The LD50 value for mice (7.2 +/- 1.35) was significantly greater than adult rats or guinea-pigs (1.14 +/- 0.08). The LD50 dose for i.v. route in anaesthetized adult rats was 95 +/- 13.2 micrograms/kg weight, which is 13 times less than that required for s.c. route. The results show that the lethality of scorpion venom in mammals differs with the age and species of the animals.