An infarct-like myocardial lesion experimentally induced in Wistar rats with Africanized bee venom

There is evidence in the literature that death following a bee or wasp sting may result from cardiac involvement. This study describes acute cardiac lesions experimentally induced in Wistar Rats submitted to intravenous inoculation of Africanized bee venom (ABV) and killed 1, 4, and 24 h after inoculation. Significant increases in serum enzyme levels were detected; light microscopy showed necrosis of the myocardium; and enzyme histochemistry showed inactivation of enzymes in and around the areas of necrosis. This is the first report of an acute necrotizing cardiac lesion, similar to human myocardial infarction, produced by the inoculation of ABV.