Ant sting mortality in Australia.

Abstract

We investigated ant sting related fatalities in Australia over the period 1980-1999. Data was obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and state coronial authorities. Six ant sting-related fatalities were identified, five in Tasmania and one in New South Wales. All were males aged between 40 and 80-years-of-age and most (5/6) had prior histories of jumper or bull ant (Myrmecia spp.) venom allergy. However, none of the deceased carried injectable adrenaline and most died within 20 min of a single sting. Significant cardiopulmonary co-morbidities were identified in all cases and, in addition, moderate-severe laryngeal oedema and coronary atherosclerosis was observed in most (4/6) cases at autopsy. Where ascertained, Myrmecia ant venom specific immunoglobulin E antibodies levels were always elevated and fell into two distinct patterns of immunoreactivity. Adult Tasmanian males with a prior history of ant venom allergy and cardiopulmonary co-morbidities are therefore at highest risk of a fatal outcome from ant stings. Deaths may be avoided by the early recognition of anaphylaxis and self-treatment with adrenaline as well as by the development of purified Myrmecia ant venom immunotherapy.

• Authors: Forbes McGain, Kenneth D Winkel
• Journal: Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (Toxicon) Vol. 40 Issue 8 Pg. 1095-100 (Aug 2002) ISSN: 0041-0101 [Print] England
• PMID: 12165310 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ant Venoms
• Immunoglobulin E
• Serine Endopeptidases
• Tryptases

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Animals
• Ant Venoms (immunology)
• Ants
• Australia (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (complications, mortality)
• Immunoglobulin E (analysis)
• Insect Bites and Stings (mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Serine Endopeptidases (blood)
• Tryptases