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Case Report |
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Anaphylaxis Caused by Imported Red
Fire Ant Stings in Málaga, Spain |
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S Fernández-Meléndez, 1
A Miranda, 1 JJ García-González, 1
D Barber, 2 M Lombardero 2 |
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1 Allergy Service, Carlos Haya
University Regional Hospital. Málaga, Spain
2 R&D Department, ALK-Abelló S. A., Madrid, Spain |
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J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol
2007; Vol. 17(1): 48-49 |
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Abstract |
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A
27-year-old woman
suffered from
anaphylaxis after
being stung by
Solenopsis invicta
ants while she was
handling wood from
South America. The
patient reported no
previous adverse
reactions to stings
by other
hymenopteran
species. Intradermal
skin tests
with hymenoptera
venom (Vespula
vulgaris, Polistes
species, Apis
melifera) were
negative. Serum
specific
immunoglobulin (Ig)
E yielded positive
results for S
invicta (5.28 kU/L)
and negative results
for A melifera, Ves
v 5 and Pol a 5.
Immunodetection
assays showed the
presence of serum
IgE against the Sol
i 2 allergen. The
patient had probably
been stung
previously although
inadvertently by red
fire ants while she
handled infested
wood from South
America, and
precautionary
measures are thus
advisable when this
material is to be
handled.
To our knowledge
this is the first
case of anaphylaxis
from red fire ant
stings reported in
Europe.
Key words:
Red fire ant venom.
Allergens.
Anaphylaxis.
Solenopsis invicta.
Hymenoptera. Europe. |
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