In vivo and in vitro comparison of fire ant venom and fire ant whole body extract

Stinging insect hypersensitivity: A practice parameter update 2011

“…4,13,15,[56][57][58] Fire ant wholebody extract has been shown to contain relevant venom allergens, and evidence continues to accumulate, despite the lack of any placebo-controlled study, to support the effectiveness of immunotherapy with fire ant whole-body extract. 12,[15][16][17][18]44,59 Recommendations for immunotherapy with fire ant whole-body extract are generally the same as those for VIT. 14 Patients who have experienced a systemic reaction to an insect sting should be given a prescription for an injectable epinephrine device and be advised to carry it with them at all times.…”

“…Although there is no venom extract available for commercial use in patients with suspected fire ant hypersensitivity, whole-body extract is available and contains relevant venom allergens, the effectiveness of which is supported by accumulating evidence. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] It is generally accepted that a positive intradermal skin test response to insect venom at a concentration of less than or equal to 1.0 mg/mL demonstrates the presence of specific IgE antibodies. [19][20][21][22] Skin testing with fire ant whole-body extract is considered indicative of specific IgE antibodies if a positive response occurs at a concentration of 1:100 wt/vol or less by using the skin prick method or 1:1,000 wt/vol or less by using the intradermal method.…”

Superiority of <i>Solenopsis</i><i>invicta</i> Venom to Whole-Body Extract in RAST for Diagnosis of Imported Fire Ant Allergy

“…Regardless of the nature of the allergenic compo nent of IFAV, our studies, together with the in vivo studies of Strom et al [12], indicate that IFAV is a preferable reagent for RAST skin testing individuals suspected of IFA sensitivity. They also suggest that IFAV may be a more efficacious reagent when im munotherapy of IFA individuals is indicated.…”

“…In the one study where IFAV has been used for in vivo testing [ 12], it was shown that, when strict criteria were applied, 91 % of study subjects gave positive skin reactions to IFAV, whereas only 53% of patients had positive skin test to IFAWBE. Those percentages are similar to the 48% positive IFAWBE and 79% posi tive IFAV RAST results in our studies.…”

“…This, in part, is due to the dif ficulty and expense in obtaining pure IFA venom (IFAV), usually by 'milking' individual ants [6][7][8][9][10][11], A recent clinical study [12] showed that 91% of IFA-sensitive patients demonstrated wheal and flare skin reactivity to IFAV, whereas only 53% reacted to IFAWBE. Findings of such clinical studies are sup ported by results of crossed immunelectrophoretic (CIE) studies in our laboratory, which showed the presence of at least 5 venom components in IFAWBE [13].…”