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Related Experiment Videos

Ant sting mortality in Australia.

Forbes McGain1, Kenneth D Winkel

  • 1Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010 Vic., Australia.

Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology
|August 8, 2002
PubMed
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Adult Tasmanian males with prior ant venom allergy and heart conditions face the highest risk of fatal ant stings. Early adrenaline use and venom immunotherapy can prevent deaths from anaphylaxis.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Ant sting fatalities are rare but can be severe.
  • Myrmecia spp. (jumper and bull ants) are known to cause severe allergic reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate ant sting-related fatalities in Australia between 1980 and 1999.
  • To identify risk factors and patterns associated with fatal ant stings.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and state coronial authorities.
  • Analysis of demographic, clinical, and autopsy findings in fatal cases.
  • Assessment of Myrmecia ant venom-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels.

Main Results:

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  • Six fatalities were identified (5 in Tasmania, 1 in New South Wales) between 1980-1999.
  • All deceased were males aged 40-80, with 5/6 having a history of Myrmecia spp. venom allergy.
  • None carried injectable adrenaline; deaths occurred rapidly (within 20 min) after a single sting.
  • Cardiopulmonary co-morbidities were present in all cases; laryngeal edema and coronary atherosclerosis in most.
  • Elevated Myrmecia ant venom-specific IgE antibodies showed two distinct immunoreactivity patterns.

    • Conclusions:

    • Adult Tasmanian males with a history of ant venom allergy and cardiopulmonary co-morbidities are at the highest risk.
    • Fatalities may be preventable through early recognition and self-treatment of anaphylaxis with adrenaline.
    • Development of purified Myrmecia ant venom immunotherapy is recommended.