Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
09:14
Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model
Published on: June 18, 2021
2.6K
Africanised honey bee sting-induced ischaemic stroke
Anil Frank Ramlackhansingh1, Naveen Seecheran2
1Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies at Saint Augustine, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago anil.ramlackhansingh@sta.uwi.edu.
BMJ Case Reports
|May 30, 2020
Summary
Africanised honey bees, or "killer bees," are aggressive hybrids whose stings can cause severe reactions. This case highlights a potential link between multiple killer bee stings and cerebrovascular events in an elderly patient.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Neurology
- Entomology
Background:
- Africanised honey bees (AHB) are a hybrid of Western honey bees known for increased aggression and swarming behavior.
- AHB stings can lead to a wide range of clinical effects, from localized reactions to severe systemic manifestations, including fatalities.
Observation:
- A case study involving an elderly male patient is presented.
- The patient experienced a cerebrovascular event, confirmed via neuroimaging.
Findings:
- The cerebrovascular event occurred within 24 hours following numerous Africanised honey bee stings.
- This suggests a potential association between AHB envenomation and acute neurological events.
Implications:
- Highlights the critical need for prompt medical evaluation following significant Africanised honey bee stings.
- Underscores the potential for severe systemic and neurological complications from AHB stings.
- May inform future research into the pathophysiology of bee sting-induced neurological events.
