Imported Fire Ant as a Health Hazard

Stafford, Chester T.; Hutto, L. S.; Rhoades, Robert B.; Thompson, William O.; Impson, L.K.

doi:10.1097/00007611-198912000-00014

Cited by 47 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…8,9 Also, more than half of the subjects with systemic allergy to P chinensis manifested potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis. Although the risk of recurrent anaphylaxis on re-stings by P chinensis has not been definitively defined, it should be proven to be high on the basis of the fact that 3 of 4 subjects with anaphylaxis had experienced several repeated reactions in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

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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Section: Discussionmentioning

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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“…First, it is possible that the venom is a direct CNS toxin. If this hypothesis were valid, children should be more sus ceptible to IFA-induced seizures as they have an incom plete blood-brain barrier, but this does not appear to oc cur [9,10]. It is also possible that IFA venom might act as a CNS toxin via a secondary transmitter or by altering a bio chemical pathway.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1982, Fox et al [10] reported mononeuro pathy (1 case), focal motor seizures (I case) and grand mal seizures (3 cases) as a response to IFA stings over a period of 8 years. The survey by Stafford et al [9] further supports the rarity of neurologic reactions by reporting virtually no severe neurologic reactions in the 20,755 cases.…”

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confidence: 90%

“…The true hazard to humans, however, does not occur with this localized reaction but with the less frequent sys temic reactions. A survey of physicians, reported by Staf ford et al [9], showed thal of 20,755 IFA stings reported, 16% of the people stung had a systemic reaction and 2% had a life-threatening reaction (anaphylaxis). While the bee and wasp, also of the order Hymenoptera, were respon sible for a majority of the insect-induced hypersensitivity reactions in the past, the IFA has become the most com mon cause of insect venom hypersensitivity in the south eastern quarter of the United States [2],…”

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confidence: 99%

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Adverse Neurologic Reactions to the Sting of the Imported Fire Ant

Candiotti

Lamas²

1993

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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While the cutaneous manifestations of the imported fire ant (IFA) sting are well known, neurologic sequalae are much more unusual. We report 2 cases of grand mal seizures associated with the sting of the IFA. The first patient suffered numerous stings without evidence of systemic reactions prior to the onset of the seizure. The second patient had manifestations of anaphylaxis prior to the occurrence of seizure. In both cases, the onset of seizures was delayed. As the geographic range of the IFA increases and more patients are stung, unusual reactions will be seen in greater frequency.

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“…Venomous arthropods are often transferred inadvertently by shipments of goods. Some examples include the introduction of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, into the USA from Brazil in 1939 on infested produce (Stafford 1989), and again in the 1950s on an unregulated shipment of azaleas (Schmidt 1977). The imported fire ant now infests more than 160 million acres in 13 states.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basophils

Schroeder

2014

Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology

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Imported Fire Ant as a Health Hazard

Cited by 47 publications

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

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

Adverse Neurologic Reactions to the Sting of the Imported Fire Ant

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