J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Jun;20(3):390-396. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.3.390.

Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis): Newly Identified Important Inhalant Allergens in Bronchial Asthma

• Kim CW
• Kim DI
• Choi SY
• Park JW
• Hong CS

• KMID: 1778495
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.3.390

Abstract

The nonstinging house ant, Monomorium pharaonis (pharaoh ant), was recently identified as a cause of respiratory allergy. This study was performed to evaluate the extent of sensitization to pharaoh ant, and its clinical significance in asthmatic patients. We carried out skin prick tests in 318 patients with asthma. Specific IgE (sIgE) to pharaoh ant was measured by ELISA, and cross-reactivity was evaluated by ELISA inhibition tests. Bronchial provocation testing was performed using pharaoh ant extracts. Fifty-eight (18.2%) of 318 patients showed positive skin responses to pharaoh ant, and 25 (7.9%) had an isolated response to pharaoh ant. Positive skin responses to pharaoh ant were significantly higher among patients with non-atopic asthma than among those with atopic asthma (26.0% vs. 14.9%, p<0.05). There was significant correlation between sIgE level and skin responses to pharaoh ant (rho=0.552, p<0.001). The ELISA inhibition tests indicated that pharaoh ant allergens had various pattern of cross-reactivity to house dust mites and cockroaches. Bronchial provocation tests to pharaoh ant were conducted for 9 patients, and eight showed typical asthmatic reactions. In conclusion, pharaoh ant is an important source of aeroallergens, and it should be included in the skin test battery for screening the causative allergens in patients with asthma.

Keyword

Asthma; Ants; Pharaoh Ant; Monomorium pharaonis; Formicidae; Allergens; Indoor Allergens

MeSH Terms

Administration, Inhalation
Adolescent
Adult
Allergens/immunology
Animals
Ants/*immunology
Asthma/blood/*immunology
Bronchial Hyperreactivity/immunology
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Female
Humans
Immunoglobulin E/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Skin Tests

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Positive skin responses to common inhalant allergens. DF, Dermatophagoides farinae; DP, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; P. ant, pharaoh ant.

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  Fig. 2 Specific IgE in serum binding to pharaoh ant in positive, negative skin responders to pharaoh ant, and healthy controls. Horizontal dotted line indicates the positive cut-off value of specific IgE to pharaoh ant, which were derived from mean+2×SD of the absorbance values of the healthy controls.

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  Fig. 3 Relationship between levels of specific IgE antibodies and skin responses to pharaoh ant in patients with positive skin responses to pharaoh ant.

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  Fig. 4 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition of pharaoh ant specific IgE. Individual serum samples were preincubated with inhibitors [pharaoh ant (●), imported fire ant (▲), P. chinensis (◆), D. farinae (■), B. germanica (○)] and then added to a pharaoh ant-coated immunoplate. Specific IgE binding to pharaoh ant is inhibited by pharaoh ant, but not by P. chinensis, B. germanica, and D. farinae extract (A). Serum from some patients showed different pattern of cross-reactivity; specific IgE binding is partially inhibited by B. germanica, and D. farinae extract, but not by P. chinensis (B).

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  Fig. 5 Monomorium pharaonis (Linne) worker ranging size from 1.5 to 2.5 mm

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