title: Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis): newly identified important inhalant allergens in bronchial asthma.
abstract: The nonstinging house ant, Monomorium pharaonis (pharaoh ant), was recently identified as a cause of respiratory allergy. This study was performed to evaluate the extent of sensitization to pharaoh ant, and its clinical significance in asthmatic patients. We carried out skin prick tests in 318 patients with asthma. Specific IgE (sIgE) to pharaoh ant was measured by ELISA, and cross-reactivity was evaluated by ELISA inhibition tests. Bronchial provocation testing was performed using pharaoh ant extracts. Fifty-eight (18.2%) of 318 patients showed positive skin responses to pharaoh ant, and 25 (7.9%) had an isolated response to pharaoh ant. Positive skin responses to pharaoh ant were significantly higher among patients with non-atopic asthma than among those with atopic asthma (26.0% vs. 14.9%, p<0.05). There was significant correlation between sIgE level and skin responses to pharaoh ant (rho=0.552, p<0.001). The ELISA inhibition tests indicated that pharaoh ant allergens had various pattern of cross-reactivity to house dust mites and cockroaches. Bronchial provocation tests to pharaoh ant were conducted for 9 patients, and eight showed typical asthmatic reactions. In conclusion, pharaoh ant is an important source of aeroallergens, and it should be included in the skin test battery for screening the causative allergens in patients with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Deok-In
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jung-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chein-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E