Analysis of fibrinogenolytic activity of South American Bothrops and Crotalus venoms reveals widespread variation on human fibrinogen cleavage

Fibrinogen is a common target of SVMP and SVSP. These toxins can destructively cleave fibrinogen, leading to the depletion of its levels. Herein we comparatively describe the fibrinogenolytic activity of the venom of Bothrops and Crotalus snakes, viperids of high epidemiological importance in Brazil. Results emphasize species-specific differences in the degradation rate and the specificity of the preferentially degraded fibrinogen chains, reflecting the complexity of the coagulotoxic effects induced by envenomation. [Display omitted] •We comparatively describe the fibrinogenolytic activity of Bothrops and Crotalus snake venoms.•Data describe the specificity of the preferentially degraded fibrinogen chains.•Results highlight species-specific differences in the fibrinogen degradation rate.•This work emphasizes the complexity of the coagulotoxic effects induced by envenomation.