Anaphylaxis to venom of the Pachycondyla species ant.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In the southeastern United States, imported fire ants have caused systemic reactions with a high incidence. On the contrary, in Korea Pachycondyla species ants (P chinensis and P solitaria), and the family Formicidae, which are in the genus Pachycondyla and the subfamily Ponerinae, have only occasionally caused systemic reactions.

OBJECTIVE:

We sought to assess whether commercially available imported fire ant extract would be useful in treating patients with anaphylaxis induced by venom from a Pachycondyla species ant.

METHODS:

Serum samples were collected from 2 women who had anaphylaxis induced by Pachycondyla species ant venom and from 6 volunteers with no history of having been stung. Specific IgE to Pachycondyla species ant extracts was measured by means of ELISA and possible allergenic components by immunoblot. Cross-reactivity between Pachycondyla chinensis, P solitaria, and imported fire ant extracts was also measured by inhibitory ELISA.

RESULTS:

Skin prick test responses were strongly positive to the extract of P chinensis (1:20 wt/vol) in the patient. Ten healthy volunteers exhibited negative responses. The 2 patients' sera exhibited high ELISA values, with absorbencies of 0.78 and 0.61 for P chinensis and 0.83 and 0.68 for P solitaria, respectively, and negative ELISA values for the extract of imported fire ants (absorbency <0.01). Imported fire ants showed no inhibition of the IgE binding to P chinensis or P solitaria. Possible allergenic components of Pachycondyla species ant extracts are 29- and 27-kd proteins and, less frequently, 16 kd proteins.

CONCLUSION:

Our data suggest that patients who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a Pachycondyla species ant might not benefit from immunotherapy with an imported fire ant extract. Immunotherapy with the extract of Pachycondyla species ants is expected to be highly effective.

• Authors: Y Y Yun, S H Ko, J W Park, C S Hong
• Journal: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology (J Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 104 Issue 4 Pt 1 Pg. 879-82 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 0091-6749 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10518836 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ant Venoms
• Immunoglobulin E

Topics

• Adult
• Anaphylaxis (therapy)
• Animals
• Ant Venoms (immunology)
• Antibody Specificity
• Cross Reactions
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoblotting
• Immunoglobulin E (immunology)