Intravascular hemolysis induced by Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract: an experimental model of envenomation in rats

Hemostatic disturbances are frequent findings in human accidents caused by Lonomia obliqua caterpillars in the southern region of Brazil. In severe envenomation, patients may present life-threatening bleedings. Such disturbances may be mimicked in rats, which also develop intravascular hemolysis. The scope of this study was to investigate the time-course and intensity of intravascular hemolysis induced by i.d. injection of 750 μg/kg crude L. obliqua bristle extract in rats. Total blood cell count, reticulocyte count, plasma hemoglobin and haptoglobin assays were performed in control and envenomed rats at 1, 6, 24 and 48 h after envenomation. Rats presented a drastic drop of haptoglobin levels at 1 and 6 h with increased plasma hemoglobin levels, a decrease in packed cell volume values at 6, 24 and 48 h, and increased reticulocyte counts throughout after envenomation. Such observations indicated that intravascular hemolysis occurred as early as 1 h following envenomation, and lasted for more than 6 h. Intravascular hemolysis is probably induced by phospholipase A 2 and other proteins with direct hemolytic activity present in crude caterpillar bristle extract.