1. Imported fire ant envenomation: A clinicopathologic study of a recognizable form of arthropod assault reaction.
- Author
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Villada G, Hafeez F, Ollague J, Nousari CH, and Elgart GW
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Ant Venoms toxicity, Ants, Biopsy, Bites and Stings diagnosis, Bites and Stings veterinary, Collagen, Edema etiology, Edema veterinary, Female, Humans, Inflammation pathology, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Skin Diseases etiology, Skin Diseases veterinary, Violence, Ant Venoms adverse effects, Arthropods, Bites and Stings pathology, Dermis pathology, Edema pathology, Epidermis pathology, Exanthema pathology, Neutrophils pathology, Skin Diseases pathology
- Abstract
Background: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features., Methods: 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., Results: 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., Conclusions: 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., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2017
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