ants and Skin-Diseases

Contact with insects may induce cutaneous or systemic reactions, ranging from little more than annoying to life threatening. The diagnosis depends on maintaining a high index of suspicion and being familiar with the insect fauna of the patient's environment and area of travel.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Bees; Culicidae; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Repellents; Phthiraptera; Siphonaptera; Skin Diseases; Wasps

Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features.. One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, 6 cases from our laboratory were retrospectively evaluated histopathologically for the following features: spongiosis, exocytosis (and type of cells), pustule formation, erosion/ulceration, epidermal necrosis, scale/crust, papillary dermal edema, inflammatory dermal infiltrate (cell type, density, depth, distribution, shape), red blood cell extravasation, vasculopathy and vasculitis.. The typical lesion follows a very distinctive clinical and histopathologic evolution over 48 hours, with the formation of a subepidermal pustule overlying a wedge-shaped area of dermal collagen basophilic degeneration with scattered neutrophils. In the 6 cases retrieved from our files, the main features were a superficial and deep dermal, perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, with basophilic degeneration of the collagen. A subepidermal pustule was noted in half of the cases.. In biopsies taken in a clinical setting, even in the absence of the characteristic subepidermal pustule, the diagnosis of imported fire ant sting can be suspected if there is a superficial and deep perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate composed of neutrophils, with some basophilic denaturation of collagen.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Ant Venoms; Ants; Arthropods; Biopsy; Bites and Stings; Collagen; Dermis; Edema; Epidermis; Exanthema; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Neutrophils; Retrospective Studies; Skin Diseases; Violence

We report a 40-year old man in Uganda with ulcerated skins lesions, hypotension, and anaphylaxis caused by bites of safari ants. Treatment was successful. Physicians should be aware of anaphylaxis caused by ant bites.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Ants; Drug Hypersensitivity; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Insect Bites and Stings; Insect Repellents; Skin Diseases; Uganda; Wasp Venoms

This paper reports a case of spontaneous fire ant sting dermatitis in canine. The skin lesions consisted of nonfollicular, grouped pustules in the abdominal region. Several fire ants were found attached to the lesional skin. Histopathological findings included an intraepidermal neutrophilic pustule and predominantly neutrophilic interstitial dermatitis. An extensive area of collagen degeneration was also observed below the epidermal pustule. These clinical and histopathological findings are remarkable similar to those observed in fire ant stings in humans.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Bites and Stings; Diagnosis, Differential; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Skin Diseases

In contrast to aggressive mastocytosis, patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) usually present with urticaria pigmentosa-like skin lesions. In those who lack skin lesions, mastocytosis is often overlooked or confused with endocrinologic, allergic, or other internal disorders.. We report on a 33-year-old male patient in whom severe hypotensive episodes occurred after contact with ants or yellow jackets. Since no specific IgE was detected, the serum tryptase concentration was measured and found to be clearly elevated (70 ng/ml). Consecutive staging and examination of the bone marrow revealed ISM. The patient was advised to circumvent insect contact, to take antihistamines on demand, and to carry an epinephrine self-injector for emergency events. In a retrospective analysis of 40 patients seen between 1988 and 2003, only 2 had a life-threatening mediator-related episode before ISM was diagnosed.. Our report confirms the diagnostic value of tryptase in patients with suspected mastocytosis. In addition, the report suggests that the lack of typical skin lesions does not exclude an indolent form of mastocytosis even if the serum tryptase is clearly elevated. Finally, our case further shows that mastocytosis can be an important differential diagnosis to be considered in patients with unexplained anaphylactoid or other mediator-related symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Antigens; Ants; Austria; Bone Marrow; Cell Line; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Mast Cells; Mastocytosis, Systemic; Monocytes; Mutation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; Recurrence; Serine Endopeptidases; Skin Diseases; Tryptases; Wasps

Topics: Animals; Ants; Edema; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Necrosis; Skin; Skin Diseases; Ulcer

Four adult dogs received experimentally controlled stings in the dorsolateral abdominal skin by imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). The sites were examined grossly 15 minutes and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours and histologically 15 minutes and 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after stinging. The initial gross lesions at 15 minutes were swelling and erythema, and the microscopic changes were vascular congestion and superficial dermal edema. By 6 hours, the lesions consisted of bright erythematous pruritic papules characterized microscopically by a band of full thickness dermal necrosis and inflammation. By 24 hours and continuing to the end of the study at 72 hours, the sites appeared completely normal grossly. Biopsies taken 24, 48, and 72 hours after stings contained microscopic changes similar to those present at 6 hours after stings. These histologic changes are unlike those described for human beings stung by imported fire ants. In human beings, fire ant stings are characterized histologically by an initial superficial vesicle that evolves into a sterile pustule.

Topics: Animals; Ants; Bites and Stings; Dermatitis, Contact; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Edema; Erythema; Female; Male; Skin Diseases; Time Factors

The sting of the imported fire ant (IFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel, produces characteristic sterile pustules. Substantial morbidity and occasional mortality from secondary infection of the IFA pustule(s) or anaphylaxis in hypersensitive persons has occurred. IFAs are found in the southeastern and south central United States. The effects of various medical regimens currently used to treat IFA pustules were evaluated clinically and histologically in rabbits. Neither prophylaxis before the sting nor treatment after the sting altered the clinical or pathologic course of the IFA pustule in rabbit skin.

Topics: Abscess; Adult; Animals; Ants; Child; Female; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Middle Aged; Rabbits; Skin Diseases; Skin Tests; United States

Topics: Ants; Diagnosis, Differential; Granuloma; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Insect Bites and Stings; Keratosis; Male; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Papilloma; Skin Diseases; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Skin Manifestations; Venoms

Topics: Adolescent; Ants; Coma; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Skin Diseases