Citation

Severino MG, Caruso B, Bonadonna P, Labardi D, Macchia D, Campi P, Passalacqua G. Eur. Ann. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2010; 42(4): 141-145.

Affiliation

Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Azienda Sanitaria di Firenze, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Associazione Italiana Allergologi Immunologi Territoriali e Espedalieri)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21114197

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cross-reactions between venoms may be responsible for multiple diagnostic positivities in hymenoptera allergy. There is limited data on the cross-reactivity between Vespula spp and Vespa crabro, which is an important cause of severe reactions in some parts of Europe. We studied by CAP-inhibition assays and immunoblotting the cross-reactivity between the two venoms. METHODS: Sera from patients with non discriminative skin/CAP positivity to both Vespula and Vespa crabro were collected for the analyses. Inhibition assays were carried out with a CAP method, incubating the sera separately with both venoms and subsequently measuring the specific IgE to venoms themselves. Immunoblotting was performed on sera with ambiguous results at the CAP-inhibition. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had a severe reaction after Vespa crabro sting and proved skin and CAP positive also to vespula. In 11/17 patients, Vespula venom completely inhibited IgE binding to VC venom, whereas VC venom inhibited binding to Vespula venom only partially (<75%). In 6 subjects the CAP-inhibition provided inconclusive results and their sera were analysed by immunoblotting. The SDS-PAGE identified hyaluronidase, phospholipase A1 and antigen 5 as the main proteins of the venoms. In 5 sera the levels of IgE against antigen 5 of Vespa crabro were higher than IgE against Vespula germanica, thus indicating a true sensitisation to crabro. CONCLUSION: In the case of multiple positivities to Vespa crabro and Vespula spp the CAP inhibition is helpful in detecting the cross-reactivities.

Language: en