Allergens in Hymenoptera venom. XXVII: bumblebee venom allergy and allergens.

BACKGROUND

Allergic reactions to bumblebee stings are much less common than allergic reactions to honeybee stings. Preliminary studies suggest that there may be a high degree of cross-reactivity between honeybee and bumblebee venoms.

OBJECTIVE

This study was done to determine the immunochemical and structural relationships between bumblebee and honeybee venom allergens.

METHODS

Allergens were purified from bumblebee venom and compared immunochemically with sera from patients with allergy and hyperimmunized rabbits. The purified proteins were characterized, enzyme activities were measured, and the complete amino acid sequences of two proteins were determined.

RESULTS

The venoms wer highly cross-reactive, consistent with the degree of structural similarity in the phospholipases. Hyaluronidases and acid phosphatases were also similar. Bumblebee venom contained several proteins not found in honeybee venom, including an interesting tryptic amidase related to clotting enzymes and acrosin.

CONCLUSION

Skin testing with honeybee venom will detect almost all cases of bumblebee venom allergy, however; RAST with bumblebee venom can detect some additional cases.