The stinging impact of the imported fire ant

Tankersley, Michael S.

doi:10.1097/aci.0b013e3283073b48

Cited by 39 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…48,51 Venom from stinging insects (Order Hymenoptera, family Apidae [eg, honeybees]; family Vespidae [eg, yellow jackets, yellow hornets, white-faced hornets, and paper wasps]; and family Formicidae [eg, ants]) [52][53][54] or, less commonly, saliva from biting insects (flies, mosquitoes, ticks, kissing bugs, and caterpillars) can trigger anaphylaxis. [54][55][56][57] In health care settings ongoing efforts to prevent anaphylaxis from natural rubber latex have been relatively successful; however, in the community anaphylaxis is still occasionally reported after direct exposure to latex-containing gloves, condoms, rubberhandled racquets, balloons, latex-padded play pits, infant pacifiers, and bottle nipples. It also potentially occurs after ingestion of foods that cross-react with latex, such as banana, kiwi, papaya, avocado, potato, and tomato.…”

Section: Pathogenesis Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 98%

“…123 For fire ant-triggered anaphylaxis, whole-body extracts are used as skin test reagents. 54,55 Measurements of venom-specific IgE levels and fire ant whole-body extract-specific *Pollen-food allergy syndrome, also termed oral allergy syndrome, is elicited by a variety of plant proteins, especially pathogen-related proteins that comprise a large number of class 2 allergenic proteins found in various fruits and vegetables. These plant proteins cross-react with airborne allergens.…”

Section: Confirmation Of the Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…147,148 Anti-IgE antibody is reported to be useful in controlling reactions to venom immunotherapy in patients with mastocytosis. 149 For prevention of anaphylaxis from fire ant stings 54,55 or from insect bites, 54,57 subcutaneous injections of the relevant whole-body extracts are used.…”

Section: Long-term Risk Reduction: Prevention Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…52,124 Challenge/provocation tests with stinging and biting insects are potentially dangerous and are used only in research. [52][53][54][55][56][57]68,125 Positive intradermal tests to stinging insect venoms, increased venom-specific IgE levels, or both occur in up to 28.5% of the general adult population, most of whom do not have systemic symptoms after an insect sting. [52][53][54]68 It is therefore critically important that the test results be interpreted in the context of the clinical history.…”

Section: Confirmation Of the Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anaphylaxis

Simons

2010

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

394

380

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Anaphylaxis occurs commonly in community settings. The rate of occurrence is increasing, especially in young people. Understanding potential triggers, mechanisms, and patient-specific risk factors for severity and fatality is the key to performing appropriate risk assessment in those who have previously experienced an acute anaphylactic episode. The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is based primarily on clinical criteria and is valid even if the results of laboratory tests, such as serum total tryptase levels, are within normal limits. Positive skin test results or increased serum specific IgE levels to potential triggering allergens confirm sensitization but do not confirm the diagnosis of anaphylaxis because asymptomatic sensitization is common in the general population. Important patient-related risk factors for severity and fatality include age, concomitant diseases, and concurrent medications, as well as other less well-defined factors, such as defects in mediator degradation pathways, fever, acute infection, menses, emotional stress, and disruption of routine. Prevention of anaphylaxis depends primarily on optimal management of patient-related risk factors, strict avoidance of confirmed relevant allergen or other triggers, and, where indicated, immunomodulation (eg, subcutaneous venom immunotherapy to prevent Hymenoptera sting-triggered anaphylaxis, an underused, potentially curative treatment). The benefits and risks of immunomodulation to prevent food-triggered anaphylaxis are still being defined. Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the medication of first choice in the treatment of anaphylaxis. All patients at risk for recurrence in the community should be equipped with 1 or more epinephrine autoinjectors; a written, personalized anaphylaxis emergency action plan; and up-to-date medical identification. Improvements in the design of epinephrine autoinjectors will help to optimize ease of use and safety. Randomized controlled trials of pharmacologic agents, such as antihistamines and glucocorticoids, are needed to strengthen the evidence base for treatment of acute anaphylactic episodes.

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Section: Pathogenesis Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Confirmation Of the Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Long-term Risk Reduction: Prevention Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Confirmation Of the Triggers Of Anaphylaxismentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Anaphylaxis

Simons

2010

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

394

380

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“…are members of the Formicidae family. The medically important aggressive species are S. invicta, S. richteri, S. geminata and S. saevissima (5,6). The venom components of these ants and their immunoreactivity have been extensively studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the allergen Sol gem 2 from the fire ant venom, Solenopsis geminata

Sukprasert¹,

Uawonggul²,

Jamjanya³

et al. 2012

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis

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Sol i 2 is a potent allergen in Solenopsis invicta venom, and most humans exhibit reactivity to it. The Sol gem 2 allergen found in the venom of the Thai tropical fire ant Solenopsis geminata was analysed in the present study. The protein was present in higher amounts than other proteins, as determined by SDS-PAGE, and presumably has allergenic properties similar to those of Sol i 2. Sol gem 2 molecular weight is 28 and 15 kDa, respectively, under non-reducing and reducing conditions, indicating that its native form is a dimer. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed its similarity to Sol i 2. The mono/dimeric form of Sol gem 2 was determined to be relevant by proteomic approach and immunoblotting. An anti-Sol gem 2 antibody was produced in mice, with a titer greater than 1:800 according to the Western blotting analysis. The Sol gem 2-neutralising activity of this antibody was determined in crickets. The paralytic dose 50 (PD 50 ) of crude S. geminata venom was elevated from 0.18 mg/g of body weight to more than 0.90 mg/g of body weight after preincubation with antibody at a ratio of 1:1. These results suggest that Sol gem 2 plays an important role in mediating the effects of the piperidine derivatives in the venom.Key words: allergy, ant venom, hymenoptera, immunoreactivity. Original PaPer The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases ISSN 1678-9199 | 2012 | volume 18 | issue 3 | pages 325-334 INTRODUCTIONVenomous insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants belong to the order Hymenoptera. These insects have a stinging apparatus at the tail end of their abdominal segment and still comprise a serious problem in tropical climates. Every year, a large number of people are stung by these insects (1). The stings are capable of delivering between 100 ng (fire ants) and 50 μg (bees) of venom (2, 3). The venom is injected from a gland through the stinger and is used to catch prey and to defend against predators. The venom of these insects is composed of various biologically active peptide and protein components, some of which can cause toxicity or anaphylaxis in humans (4).Fire ants (Solenopsis sp.) are members of the Formicidae family. The medically important aggressive species are S. invicta, S. richteri, S. geminata and S. saevissima (5, 6). The venom components of these ants and their immunoreactivity have been extensively studied. Approximately 95% of fire ant venom consists of water-insoluble piperidine alkaloids, and approximately 0.1% of its weight (10 to 100 ng of protein in 0.04 to 0.11 μL per sting) is protein (7). The toxicity of the venom is thought to be due to solenopsins and methyl-, alkylor alkenyl-substituted piperidines (7-9). The venom has cytotoxic, insecticidal, antibiotic and antimicrobial properties as well (7,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). The protein components of venom, which are wellknown allergens, are believed to play important roles in accelerating the spread of solenopsins to nearby cells and tissues. Solenopsins are believed t...

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