Passive transfer of cutaneous mosquito-bite hypersensitivity by IgE anti-saliva antibodies.

BACKGROUND

Mosquito bites frequently cause cutaneous wheal and flare reactions, and recent immunoblotting studies have shown specific anti-saliva IgE antibodies in many persons who have such reactions.

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to show that human serum containing mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies can produce histamine release in vitro and whealing in vivo.

METHODS

Two mosquito bite-tolerant subjects had bite challenges and Prausnitz-Küstner tests with heated and unheated serum from one patient with Aedes mosquito allergy. Immunoblotting and basophil histamine release tests were performed with the patient's and subjects' sera.

RESULTS

Both mosquito bite-tolerant subjects had positive Prausnitz-Küstner reactions, which indicated a successful transfer of cutaneous mosquito hypersensitivity. The ordinary and passive basophil histamine release tests also produced positive results with Aedes communis antigens.

CONCLUSION

The results of the Prausnitz-Küstner test, immunoblotting, and basophil histamine release tests are consistent with the hypothesis that mosquito bite whealing is mediated by specific anti-saliva IgE antibodies.