In vivo and in vitro comparison of fire ant venom and fire ant whole body extract.
Thirty-four patients with a history of immediate hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant were evaluated in a study designed to compare the diagnostic usefulness of fire ant whole body extract (WBE) preparations with that of fire ant venom (IFAV). Ninety-one percent (31/34) of the hypersensitive patients skin tested with IFAV at a maximal concentration of 1:5 X 10(3), v/v, demonstrated a wheal equal to or greater than the histamine control. Fifty-three percent (18/34) of the group were skin test positive to a WBE preparation. When the criteria for a positive skin test were relaxed, 82% of the hypersensitive group could be identified with the IFAWBE. A comparison of skin test results in sensitive patients revealed variability in the sensitivity of the WBE preparations utilized in the study. Leukocyte histamine release demonstrated a dose-response release of histamine with both IFAV and SIWBEa preparations. Specific venom antisera produced in rabbits identified a precipitin line of common identity in a gel-diffusion system containing IFAWBE and IFAV. This finding was verified by the competitive inhibition of IFAWBE with IFAV in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay system. Fire ant WBEs contain venom constituents and are effective diagnostic agents in up to 82% of patients with hypersensitivity to the sting of the imported fire ant. Marked variability in the responsiveness of sensitive patients to different WBE preparations mandates standardization of these diagnostic preparations.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001000:Ants / Q000276:immunology*; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012882:Skin Tests; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000276:immunology*
D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D014020:Tissue Extracts