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What is Botulinum Equine Heptavalent Antitoxin
Botulism equine heptavalent antitoxin is a mixture of antibody fragments derived from horse plasma, which is used to provide passive immunity following documented or suspected exposure to botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C, D, E, F, or G.
The antitoxin is the first product indicated for neutralization of all 7 known botulinum neurotoxins.
Botulism equine heptavalent antitoxin is available in 20 mL and 50 mL vials; however regardless of the volume, each vial contains a minimum antitoxin potency of more than 4,500 units serotype A, more than 3,300 units serotype B, more than 3,000 units serotype C, more than 600 units serotype D, more than 5,100 units serotype E, more than 3,000 units serotype F, and more than 600 units serotype G.
The amount of antitoxin required to counteract botulinum neurotoxin intoxication has not been established. Health care providers are advised to immediately contact their state public health department for consultation on any suspected non-infant botulism case.
If there is no answer, contact the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) at 770-488-7100. For infant botulism, the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program at the California Department of Public Health provides consultation and can be reached at 510-231-7600.
If clinical consultation with state public health department and CDC supports botulism, request immediate delivery of the antitoxin and begin treatment as soon as it is available; DO NOT wait for laboratory confirmation.
Botulism is an acute neurological condition associated with symmetrical descending weakness that results from exposure to neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive bacillus.
There are 7 known botulinum neurotoxins (serotypes A-G), with serotypes A, B, E, and F producing disease in humans.
Botulinum neurotoxin exposure occurs in 1 of 5 ways: foodborne; wound; inhalational; infant botulism; and adult botulism of unknown etiology.
During efficacy studies, guinea pigs and Rhesus macaques were exposed to botulinum neurotoxins via the intramuscular and intravenous routes, respectively.
The animals were then administered either a placebo control or the heptavalent antitoxin; animals that received the antitoxin experienced improved survival rates (p < 0.0001).
Although shown to be effective, treatment outcomes depend largely on the time from symptom onset to antitoxin administration.
Indications
- botulism
Side Effects
- agitation
- anxiety
- bradycardia
- bronchospasm
- cardiac arrest
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- edema
- erythema
- fever
- headache
- hyperhidrosis
- hypotension
- nausea
- pruritus
- rash
- serum sickness
- sinus tachycardia
- urinary retention
- urticaria
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- asthma
- breast-feeding
- diabetes mellitus
- equine protein hypersensitivity
- hypoglycemia
- infection
- infusion-related reactions
- pregnancy
- viral infection
Interactions
No information is available regarding drug interactions associated with Botulinum Equine Heptavalent Antitoxin
