Expanding habitat of the imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) : A public health concern

Kemp, Stephen F.; deShazo, Richard D.; Moffitt, John E.; Williams, David F.; Buhner, William A.

doi:10.1067/mai.2000.105707

Cited by 156 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The nests of B. patagonica occur on a wide variety of habitats, especially under stones, in leaf litter or under piles of dead wood, and their diet consists of various insects, honeydew and other food sources [28]. Solenopsis richteri builds its nests in open areas and is an omnivorous species that feeds on honeydew, plant exudates, insects, spiders and seed oils [29]. Occasionally, some of these species coexist in the same host plant.…”

Section: (D) Tending Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bottom-up effects may not reach the top: the influence of ant–aphid interactions on the spread of soil disturbances through trophic chains

et al. 2012

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Soil disturbances that increase nutrient availability may trigger bottom-up cascading effects along trophic chains. However, the strength and sign of these effects may depend on attributes of the interacting species. Here, we studied the effects of nutrient-rich refuse dumps of the leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex lobicornis, on the food chain composed of thistles, aphids, tending ants and aphid natural enemies. Using stable isotopes tracers, we show that the nitrogen accumulated in refuse dumps propagates upward through the studied food chain. Thistles growing on refuse dumps had greater biomass and higher aphid density than those growing in adjacent soil. These modifications did not affect the structure of the tending ant assemblage, but were associated with increased ant activity. In contrast to the expectations under the typical bottom-up cascade effect, the increase in aphid abundance did not positively impact on aphid natural enemies. This pattern may be explained by both an increased activity of tending ants, which defend aphids against their natural enemies, and the low capacity of aphid natural enemies to show numerical or functional responses to increased aphid density. Our results illustrate how biotic interactions and the response capacity of top predators could disrupt bottom-up cascades triggered by disturbances that increase resource availability.

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Section: (D) Tending Antsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bottom-up effects may not reach the top: the influence of ant–aphid interactions on the spread of soil disturbances through trophic chains

et al. 2012

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“…1 In Korea 4 subfamilies, 33 genera, and 104 species of ants have formally been registered. 2 In the southeastern United States and Australia, imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri) belonging to the Myrmicinae subfamily and Formicidae family have caused systemic reactions with a high incidence. 2,3 In Korea the venom from the Pachycondyla species of the Ponerinae subfamily and Formicidae family has occasionally induced anaphylactic reactions, 4,5 and it is the only ant to have caused anaphylaxis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaphylaxis caused by the new ant, Pachycondyla chinensis : Demonstration of specific IgE and IgE-binding components

Kim¹,

Park²,

Kim³

et al. 2001

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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Background: There have been no reports dealing with the pathogenic mechanism and IgE-binding components in patients with anaphylaxis caused by a sting from Pachycondyla chinensis. Objectives: This study was conducted to observe the clinical features of patients with P chinensis-induced anaphylaxis. The roles of specific (s) IgE and sIgG4 antibodies were evaluated, and IgE-binding components were identified. Methods: Seven patients with P chinensis-induced anaphylaxis and 15 unexposed control subjects were enrolled. P chinensis ants were collected at the patients' homes, and venom was prepared as P chinensis extract. Five patients complained of bee venom-induced anaphylaxis and had positive sIgE levels to yellow jacket venom, wasp venom, or both as well. Serum sIgE and sIgG4 were detected by means of ELISA. To identify IgEbinding components within P chinensis extracts, 12% SDS-PAGE with immunoblot analysis was applied. Results: All patients had positive skin prick test responses to P chinensis antigen and positive sIgE levels. Five (71%) patients had positive sIgG4 levels. Eight IgE-binding components (58, 46, 3l, 29, 27, 25, 22, and 12 kd) were noted, and the component at 12 kd was the most frequently found allergen (85%). IgE ELISA inhibition tests were performed on 2 groups of sera: one from patients with anaphylaxis induced by both P chinensis and bee venom (group A) and the other from patients with anaphylaxis induced by P chinensis venom alone without bee venom allergy (group B). ELISA inhibition tests with serum from group A showed significant inhibitions with addition of P chinensis extract, partial inhibitions with yellow jacket antigen, and minimal inhibitions with wasp or imported fire ant antigens. However, ELISA inhibition tests with serum from group B showed significant inhibitions with P chinensis antigen but no inhibition with wasp, yellow jacket, or imported fire ant antigens. Conclusions

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“…[1][2][3] In the United States the IFA may be the most common cause of insect sting hypersensitivity in endemic regions, 4 and public health concern has heightened because of the continued expansion of IFA habitat. 1 Recently, sporadic cases of allergic reactions after stings by Pachycondyla chinensis ants, which belong to the Poneriae subfamily of the Formicidae family, have been frequently reported in Korea. 5,6 It is known that P chinensis exist in Far East Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, and China.…”

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confidence: 99%

Prevalence of pachycondyla chinensis venom allergy in an ant-infested area in Korea

Cho

Lee

et al. 2002

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

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Asthma, rhinitis, other respiratory diseasesRecently, immediate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, after Pachycondyla chinensis ant stings have been frequently reported in Korea. To estimate the prevalence of these reactions and the sensitization rate to P chinensis, we undertook a visit-questionnaire survey of the 327 adult residents living in a town in an ant-infested area in Korea. Skin prick tests with 6 common inhalant allergens, 3 bee venom allergens, and P chinensis whole body extract were performed on all ant-allergic subjects, on 86 asymptomatic residents, and on 37 controls outside the area. The serum-specific IgE to P chinensis extract was determined by ELISA. Seven subjects (2.1%) reported that they had experienced systemic allergic reactions to P chinensis stings; 4 of them had anaphylactic reactions. Large local reactions occurred in an additional 5 subjects (1.6%). All subjects with systemic allergic reactions had positive skin prick test results to P chinensis extract, whereas 23.3% of asymptomatic residents and 2.7% of the controls showed positive skin prick test results. The serum-specific IgE level was significantly higher in the subjects with systemic reactions than in the subjects with local reactions, the asymptomatic sensitizers, and the nonatopic controls. Sensitization to bee venom was found in 25% of the P chinensis-allergic subjects; this was significantly higher than the 3% rate seen in nonsensitized subjects. In conclusion, we report a 2.1% prevalence of systemic allergic reactions after P chinensis stings, based on self-reported symptoms, in an ant-infested area in Korea.

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Expanding habitat of the imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) : A public health concern

Cited by 156 publications

References 35 publications

Bottom-up effects may not reach the top: the influence of ant–aphid interactions on the spread of soil disturbances through trophic chains

Bottom-up effects may not reach the top: the influence of ant–aphid interactions on the spread of soil disturbances through trophic chains

Anaphylaxis caused by the new ant, Pachycondyla chinensis : Demonstration of specific IgE and IgE-binding components

Prevalence of pachycondyla chinensis venom allergy in an ant-infested area in Korea

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