Adverse reactions to ants other than imported fire ants.
OBJECTIVE
To identify ants other than Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri reported to cause adverse reactions in humans.


METHODS
We conducted a literature review to identify reports of medical reactions to ants other than S. invicta and S. richteri. Our review of medical and entomological literature on stinging ants was generated from MEDLINE and FORMIS, respectively, using the key words stinging ants and ant stings. The search was limited to articles in English published from 1966 to 2004 on MEDLINE and all years on FORMIS. We also present 3 new case reports of severe reactions to stings by 2 different species of ants, Pseudomyrmex ejectus and Hypoponera punctatissima.


METHODS
Articles that concerned anaphylactic (IgE-mediated) or anaphylactic-like (resembling anaphylaxis but mechanism unknown) immediate reactions to ant stings or bites were included in this review.


RESULTS
Taken together, our data demonstrate that S. invicta and S. richteri are not alone in their capability to cause serious allergic or adverse reactions. A diverse array of ant species belonging to 6 different subfamilies (Formicinae, Myrmeciinae, Ponerinae, Ectatomminae, Myrmicinae, and Pseudomyrmecinae) and 10 genera (Solenopsis, Formica, Myrmecia, Tetramorium, Pogonomyrmex, Pachycondyla, Odontomachus, Rhytidoponera, Pseudomyrmex, and Hypoponera) have now been shown to have this capability.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness that species other than imported fire ants may cause severe reactions should lead to more rapid evaluation and treatment and further investigation of the medical entomology of these ants.
Klotz
John H
JH
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside 92521, USA. john.klotz@ucr.edu
deShazo
Richard D
RD
Pinnas
Jacob L
JL
Frishman
Austin M
AM
Schmidt
Justin O
JO
Suiter
Daniel R
DR
Price
Gary W
GW
Klotz
Stephen A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000862:Ant Venoms / Q000276:immunology*; D001000:Ants / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000862:Ant Venoms