title: Epidemiologic investigation of hornet and paper wasp stings in forest workers and electrical facility field workers in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Forestry and field workers who work outdoors are at high risk for Hymenoptera stings and may develop occupation-related allergies from being stung. However, clinical and immunological surveys of Hymenoptera stings in the occupational setting have rarely been reported. We surveyed the natural history of Hymenoptera stings in Japanese forestry workers (FWs) and electrical facility field workers (EFFWs), and we assessed the utility of measuring specific (s)IgE Ab to Hymenptera venom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires on hornet and paper wasp stings were completed by 999 FWs, 354 EFFWs, and 365 office workers as controls between July and November 2009. Sera from these participants were tested for sIgE Ab levels to Hymenptera venom with a CAP system using a fluoroenzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants who had experienced Hymenoptera stings, 914 (91.5%) were FWs, 293 (82.8%) were EFFWs, and 295 (80.8%) were controls. Of the participants who had experienced systemic reactions, 210 (21.0%) were FWs, 51 (14.4%) were EFFWs, and 39 (10.7%) were controls. sIgE Ab in response to hornet and wasp venom was positive (≥ class 2) in 42.4% and 41.4% of FWs, 30.1% and 31.4% of EFFWs, and 15.1% and 18.1% of controls, respectively. The likelihood of being sIgE-positive to wasp and hornet venom was significantly higher in FWs and EFFWs than in controls (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  21% of FWs and 14% of EFFWs had experienced systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings with a higher frequency compared with office workers in the same area. 40% of FWs and 30% of EFFWs had sera that were sIgE positive to Hymenoptera venom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumeko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Mineaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Naruo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan; Department of Developmental Genetics, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology; D016468:Forestry; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011210:Power Plants; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000276:immunology; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D001514:Bee Venoms; D014862:Wasp Venoms; D007073:Immunoglobulin E