Anaphylaxis to Vespa velutina nigrithorax: Pattern of Sensitization for an Emerging Problem in Western Countries

To define the sensitization pattern of patients with anaphylaxis to Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN).

We studied 100 consecutive Spanish patients with anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom and systematically determined specific IgE (sIgE) to whole venoms (Vespula species, Polistes dominula, Apis mellifera, Vespa crabro, and Dolichovespula maculata) and their molecular components (rApi m 1, rApi m 5, rApi m 10, rVes v 1, rVes v 5, rPol d 5, and cross-reactive carbohydrates). Specific IgE to VVN venom and its antigen 5 (nVesp v 5) were measured in a subsample.

Seventy-seven patients had anaphylaxis to VVN. Of these, only 16 (20.8%) reported previous VVN stings, but were stung by other Hymenoptera. Positive sIgE (>0.35 kUA/L) to each of the whole venoms was detected in >70% of patients (Vespula species in 100%). The components showing >50% positivity were rApi m 5 (51.4%), rPol d 5 (80.0%), and rVes v 5 (98.7%). This pattern was similar to that of Vespula species anaphylaxis (n=11) but different from that of A mellifera anaphylaxis (n=10). Specific IgE to nVesp v 5 was positive in all patients (n=15) with VVN anaphylaxis and was correlated with sIgE to both rVes v 5 (R=0.931) and rPol d 5 (R=0.887).

VVN has become the commonest cause of Hymenoptera anaphylaxis in our area. Most cases report no previous VVN stings. Their sensitization pattern is similar to that of patients with anaphylaxis to other Vespidae. Specific IgE to antigen-5 from VVN, Vespula species, and P dominula are strongly correlated in patients with VVN anaphylaxis.