BACKGROUND: Local and systemic reactions can occur after bites of Argas reflexus (Argas), a soft tick parasitizing pigeons. OBJECTIVE: Risk assessment of IgE-mediated sensitizations and systemic reactions after Argas bites. METHODS: Case histories, skin prick tests (SPTs) with a whole-body extract of Argas containing major allergen Arg r 1, and common inhalants and specific IgE measurements were obtained from 148 subjects who had had Argas bites and 20 volunteers as a control group. RESULTS: Systemic reactions (urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea, cardiovascular dysregulation, unconsciousness) were reported in 12 of 148 (8%); 146 of 148 (99%) had local reactions. Atopy was found in 37 of 146 (25%) with local reactions and 3 of 12 (25%) with systemic reactions. SPT to Argas was positive in 24 of 148 (16%) with a high proportion of atopics 10 of 24 (42%); specific IgE to Argas was detectable in 12 of 135 (8% of 148) with moderate concordance to systemic reactions. No positive SPT or specific IgE results to Argas were obtained in the control group. Immunoblotting of 23 sera revealed an IgE-binding protein in 19 of 23 sera (82%) at 22 kd, indicating a major allergen of Argas. CONCLUSION: Severe anaphylactic reactions were infrequently (approximately 8%) found after bites of the soft tick Argas reflexus. Atopy is a risk factor for skin sensitizations to Argas, but not for systemic reactions after bites by Argas. Using a whole-body extract of Argas, diagnosis through SPT and specific IgE is hampered by false-negative and irrelevant positive results, particularly in atopy.
BACKGROUND: Local and systemic reactions can occur after bites of Argas reflexus (Argas), a soft tick parasitizing pigeons. OBJECTIVE: Risk assessment of IgE-mediated sensitizations and systemic reactions after Argas bites. METHODS: Case histories, skin prick tests (SPTs) with a whole-body extract of Argas containing major allergen Arg r 1, and common inhalants and specific IgE measurements were obtained from 148 subjects who had had Argas bites and 20 volunteers as a control group. RESULTS: Systemic reactions (urticaria, angioedema, dyspnea, cardiovascular dysregulation, unconsciousness) were reported in 12 of 148 (8%); 146 of 148 (99%) had local reactions. Atopy was found in 37 of 146 (25%) with local reactions and 3 of 12 (25%) with systemic reactions. SPT to Argas was positive in 24 of 148 (16%) with a high proportion of atopics 10 of 24 (42%); specific IgE to Argas was detectable in 12 of 135 (8% of 148) with moderate concordance to systemic reactions. No positive SPT or specific IgE results to Argas were obtained in the control group. Immunoblotting of 23 sera revealed an IgE-binding protein in 19 of 23 sera (82%) at 22 kd, indicating a major allergen of Argas. CONCLUSION: Severe anaphylactic reactions were infrequently (approximately 8%) found after bites of the soft tick Argas reflexus. Atopy is a risk factor for skin sensitizations to Argas, but not for systemic reactions after bites by Argas. Using a whole-body extract of Argas, diagnosis through SPT and specific IgE is hampered by false-negative and irrelevant positive results, particularly in atopy.
Authors: Scott P Commins; Hayley R James; Libby A Kelly; Shawna L Pochan; Lisa J Workman; Matthew S Perzanowski; Katherine M Kocan; John V Fahy; Lucy W Nganga; Eva Ronmark; Philip J Cooper; Thomas A E Platts-Mills Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 10.793
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Authors: Monika Raulf; K C Bergmann; S Kull; I Sander; Ch Hilger; T Brüning; U Jappe; H Müsken; A Sperl; S Vrtala; E Zahradnik; L Klimek Journal: Allergo J Int Date: 2015-05-09