Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions

Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis

Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. When IgE binds to allergens, it triggers the release of mediators– histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins from mast cells and basophils. These mediators cause vasodilation, edema, and inflammation, leading to various symptoms.The primary allergens causing anaphylaxis include food items (e.g., peanuts, shellfish), drugs (e.g., penicillin, asparaginase, corticotropin,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Use of Toxicology Reports to Examine Substances Used in Poisoning-related Suicides among US Health Care Workers.

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine·2026

Same author

Agricultural Injuries With Dementia: Double Whammy?

American journal of industrial medicine·2026

Same author

The Impact of Job Strain on Occupational Access to Firearms and Firearm-Related Suicide Among US Workers.

American journal of industrial medicine·2026

Same author

Exploring pathways linking driving stress to self-regulation among older adults: A structural equation modeling approach using survey data.

Journal of safety research·2025

Same author

Status of Mental Health and Working Conditions Among Workers Employed in Small Businesses in 2018 and 2022.

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine·2025

Same author

Molecular interactions of the Na<sub>V</sub>1.5 C-terminal domain: CaM sequestered the IQ motif from the CTD.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2025

Same journal

Occult intraperitoneal gynecological hemorrhage: An under-evaluated source of hemoperitoneum after blunt trauma.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Racket and paddle sports-related injuries treated in United States emergency departments, 2000-2023.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Prehospital epinephrine as a bridge to survival in traumatic cardiac arrest: A nationwide propensity score-matched analysis.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Crowdsourcing technologies for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest response: A scoping review.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

First-line vasopressor therapy in neonates with fluid-refractory septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

A multi-center retrospective cohort study of SUGAmmadex for neuromuscular blockade reversal in the emergency department: SUGARED study - on behalf of EMPHARM-NET Investigators.

The American journal of emergency medicine·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Mongolian Gerbils as an Animal Model of Wound Healing

Mongolian Gerbils as an Animal Model of Wound Healing

Published on: January 6, 2023

Gerbil bite anaphylaxis.

Jonathan Watson¹, Erik Schobitz², Jonathan Davis³

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

|October 27, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Allergic reactions can occur from household pets. A rare case shows that a Mongolian gerbil bite can cause anaphylaxis, highlighting a novel allergen source.

Keywords:

Allergic reaction Anaphylaxis Epinephrine Gerbil bite

More Related Videos

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Zebrafish Animal Model for the Study of Allergic Reactions in Response to Tick Saliva Biomolecules

Zebrafish Animal Model for the Study of Allergic Reactions in Response to Tick Saliva Biomolecules

Published on: September 16, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Mongolian Gerbils as an Animal Model of Wound Healing

Mongolian Gerbils as an Animal Model of Wound Healing

Published on: January 6, 2023

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Zebrafish Animal Model for the Study of Allergic Reactions in Response to Tick Saliva Biomolecules

Zebrafish Animal Model for the Study of Allergic Reactions in Response to Tick Saliva Biomolecules

Published on: September 16, 2022

Area of Science:

Allergy and Immunology
Toxicology
Veterinary Medicine

Background:

Household pets commonly trigger allergic reactions like rhinitis and urticaria in sensitive individuals.
The rise in exotic pet ownership introduces potential new allergens into homes.
Rodents, increasingly kept as pets, may pose unique allergenic risks.

Observation:

A 16-year-old female experienced immediate anaphylaxis after being bitten by a pet Mongolian gerbil.
The patient presented to the emergency department with severe systemic allergic symptoms.
This incident highlights a specific, severe reaction to a gerbil bite.

Findings:

Gerbil bites can act as a direct route for allergen exposure.
Anaphylaxis is a potential, albeit rare, outcome of a Mongolian gerbil bite.
This case identifies gerbil bites as a significant, underrecognized source of severe allergic reactions.

Implications:

Clinicians should consider exotic pet-related allergies, including rodent bites, in differential diagnoses.
Awareness of gerbil-induced anaphylaxis is crucial for emergency medicine and allergy specialists.
Further research into gerbil allergens and sensitization pathways is warranted to improve patient care.