Kim Cheol-Woo, Choi Soo-Young, Park Jung-Won, Hong Chein-Soo
Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2005 Feb;94(2):301-6. doi: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61312-9.
Many studies are available on systemic reactions to ant sting, but few have described the direct role of ants in respiratory allergy. The nonstinging house ant, Monomorium pharaonis (pharaoh ant), is a highly infesting species in indoor environments.
To determine whether the pharaoh ant is an indoor source of aeroallergens.
Two patients with asthma who lived in homes with ant infestation were enrolled. Pharaoh ants were collected at the patients' homes, and crude extracts were prepared. Skin prick tests with ant extracts were performed. Specific IgE to pharaoh ant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the allergenic components were determined by using immunoblot analysis. Cross-reactivity among pharaoh ant, imported fire ant, Pachycondyla chinensis ant, and other indoor allergens was evaluated by ELISA inhibition tests. Specific bronchial challenge testing was performed using pharaoh ant extracts.
Both patients had positive skin test reactions to pharaoh ant extract and high levels of specific IgE antibodies to pharaoh ant. The ELISA inhibition test results demonstrated significant inhibition by pharaoh ant; however, P. chinensis, cockroach, and house dust mite showed no inhibition of the IgE binding to pharaoh ant. Two important IgE-binding components, 9.4 and 34 kDa, were identified by using immunoblot analysis. Pharaoh ant bronchial challenge test results showed typical early asthmatic reactions in 1 patient and dual asthmatic reactions in the other patient.
Ants can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction regardless of sting in sensitized patients. Ants should be taken into consideration as a cause of respiratory allergy in patients living in homes with visual evidence of infestation.
关于蚂蚁叮咬引起的全身反应已有许多研究，但很少有研究描述蚂蚁在呼吸道过敏中的直接作用。非叮咬性家蚁法老蚁是室内环境中高度侵扰的物种。
确定法老蚁是否为室内空气过敏原的来源。
招募了两名居住在有蚂蚁侵扰房屋中的哮喘患者。在患者家中收集法老蚁，并制备粗提物。用蚂蚁提取物进行皮肤点刺试验。通过酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）测量针对法老蚁的特异性IgE，并使用免疫印迹分析确定过敏原成分。通过ELISA抑制试验评估法老蚁、红火蚁、中国厚结猛蚁和其他室内过敏原之间的交叉反应性。使用法老蚁提取物进行特异性支气管激发试验。
两名患者对法老蚁提取物的皮肤试验反应均为阳性，且针对法老蚁的特异性IgE抗体水平较高。ELISA抑制试验结果显示法老蚁有显著抑制作用；然而，中国厚结猛蚁、蟑螂和屋尘螨对IgE与法老蚁的结合无抑制作用。通过免疫印迹分析鉴定出两种重要的IgE结合成分，分别为9.4 kDa和34 kDa。法老蚁支气管激发试验结果显示，1例患者出现典型的早期哮喘反应，另1例患者出现双重哮喘反应。
对于致敏患者，无论是否叮咬，蚂蚁均可诱发IgE介导的支气管收缩。对于家中有明显蚂蚁侵扰迹象的患者，应考虑将蚂蚁作为呼吸道过敏的一个病因。
