Lesions caused by Africanized honeybee stings in three cattle in Brazil

Abstract

We report three cases of stings by Africanized bees in cattle in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Erythema, subcutaneous edema, necrosis accompanied by skin detachment, and subsequent skin regeneration were observed, especially on the head and dewlap. Histopathological examinations performed 45 days later revealed complete skin reepithelialization with moderate dermal fibrosis. The clinical picture and differential diagnosis are discussed in the present manuscript, with a focus on photosensitization, which causes cutaneous lesions on the head (sequela) with cicatricial curving of the ears and can be very similar to what is observed in cattle attacked by swarms of bees. The distinction between photosensitization and bee sting lesions can be made with a focus on history and clinical and pathological aspects.

Massive attack by honeybees in a German shepherd dog: description of a fatal case and review of the literature

“…In another report on three cases of Africanized honeybee stings in cattle, it is recommended that sting-associated lesions in affected animals, especially scar tissue retraction of ears, should be differentiated from photosensitization on the basis of history and clinic-pathological lesions [ 23 ]. Histological examination of skin of the affected animals revealed findings similar to those observed in horses affected by chronic photosensitization caused by Brachiari humidicola [ 24 ].…”

An accidental fatal attack on domestic pigeons by honey bees in Bangladesh

“…Bee venom is an efficient and complex mixture of substances that allows bees to mount a defense against a wide range of predators, from other arthropods to complex vertebrates [ 9 , 11 ]. The principal components of bee venom are phospholipase A 2 , melittin, apamin, peptide 401, histamine, hyaluronidase, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 14 ]. In mammals, bee stings can produce a wide range of responses, from a local immune response to severe life-threatening systemic reactions that can trigger allergic, anaphylactic or toxic reactions involving skin necrosis, liver injury, cardiac damage, hypotension, shock, respiratory distress syndrome, dyspnoea, asphyxia, pancreatitis, bleeding, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 19 ].…”

“…The principal components of bee venom are phospholipase A 2 , melittin, apamin, peptide 401, histamine, hyaluronidase, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 14 ]. In mammals, bee stings can produce a wide range of responses, from a local immune response to severe life-threatening systemic reactions that can trigger allergic, anaphylactic or toxic reactions involving skin necrosis, liver injury, cardiac damage, hypotension, shock, respiratory distress syndrome, dyspnoea, asphyxia, pancreatitis, bleeding, hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, rhabdomyolysis and renal failure [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 19 ]. Consequently, its diverse range of pathophysiological effects on humans and livestock has major medical, veterinary and economic implications [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 17 , 20 ].…”

“…Most experimental studies and clinical reports on the toxicity of bee venom have been reported in mammals, such as humans, mice, rats, dogs, cattle and horses [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Fatal case reports among pigeons following multiple bee stings are rare.…”

“…We removed visible embedded stings from the pigeons and treated them with prednisolone sodium succinate (10 mg/kg, IM), diphenhydramine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, IM) and sulphadimidine sodium (0.2 mg/kg, IM). Warmed (40°C) 2.5% dextrose saline (10 m l /kg, SC) and furosemide (2 mg/kg, PO) were also administered [ 4 , 7 , 11 , 13 , 18 ]. Before treatment, 4 m l of blood was collected from the alar vein of the affected pigeons [ 10 ]; additionally, we took the same volume of blood from uninjured age- and weight-matched normal pigeons as normal controls.…”