Abstract
Background: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features. Methods: One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, 6 cases from our laboratory were retrospectively evaluated histopathologically for the following features: spongiosis, exocytosis (and type of cells), pustule formation, erosion/ulceration, epidermal necrosis, scale/crust, papillary dermal edema, inflammatory dermal infiltrate (cell type, density, depth, distribution, shape), red blood cell extravasation, vasculopathy and vasculitis. Results: The typical lesion follows a very distinctive clinical and histopathologic evolution over 48 hours, with the formation of a subepidermal pustule overlying a wedge-shaped area of dermal collagen basophilic degeneration with scattered neutrophils. In the 6 cases retrieved from our files, the main features were a superficial and deep dermal, perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, with basophilic degeneration of the collagen. A subepidermal pustule was noted in half of the cases. Conclusions: In biopsies taken in a clinical setting, even in the absence of the characteristic subepidermal pustule, the diagnosis of imported fire ant sting can be suspected if there is a superficial and deep perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate composed of neutrophils, with some basophilic denaturation of collagen.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Cutaneous Pathology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - 2017 |
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Keywords
- Arthropod assault
- Basophilic collagen degeneration
- Imported fire ant
- Subepidermal pustule
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Histology
- Dermatology
Cite this
Imported fire ant envenomation : A clinicopathologic study of a recognizable form of arthropod assault reaction. / Villada, Gabriel; Hafeez, Farhaan; Ollague, Jose; Nousari, Carlos H.; Elgart, George.
In: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Imported fire ant envenomation
T2 - A clinicopathologic study of a recognizable form of arthropod assault reaction
AU - Villada, Gabriel
AU - Hafeez, Farhaan
AU - Ollague, Jose
AU - Nousari, Carlos H.
AU - Elgart, George
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features. Methods: One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, 6 cases from our laboratory were retrospectively evaluated histopathologically for the following features: spongiosis, exocytosis (and type of cells), pustule formation, erosion/ulceration, epidermal necrosis, scale/crust, papillary dermal edema, inflammatory dermal infiltrate (cell type, density, depth, distribution, shape), red blood cell extravasation, vasculopathy and vasculitis. Results: The typical lesion follows a very distinctive clinical and histopathologic evolution over 48 hours, with the formation of a subepidermal pustule overlying a wedge-shaped area of dermal collagen basophilic degeneration with scattered neutrophils. In the 6 cases retrieved from our files, the main features were a superficial and deep dermal, perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, with basophilic degeneration of the collagen. A subepidermal pustule was noted in half of the cases. Conclusions: In biopsies taken in a clinical setting, even in the absence of the characteristic subepidermal pustule, the diagnosis of imported fire ant sting can be suspected if there is a superficial and deep perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate composed of neutrophils, with some basophilic denaturation of collagen.
AB - Background: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features. Methods: One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, 6 cases from our laboratory were retrospectively evaluated histopathologically for the following features: spongiosis, exocytosis (and type of cells), pustule formation, erosion/ulceration, epidermal necrosis, scale/crust, papillary dermal edema, inflammatory dermal infiltrate (cell type, density, depth, distribution, shape), red blood cell extravasation, vasculopathy and vasculitis. Results: The typical lesion follows a very distinctive clinical and histopathologic evolution over 48 hours, with the formation of a subepidermal pustule overlying a wedge-shaped area of dermal collagen basophilic degeneration with scattered neutrophils. In the 6 cases retrieved from our files, the main features were a superficial and deep dermal, perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate consisting of neutrophils, with basophilic degeneration of the collagen. A subepidermal pustule was noted in half of the cases. Conclusions: In biopsies taken in a clinical setting, even in the absence of the characteristic subepidermal pustule, the diagnosis of imported fire ant sting can be suspected if there is a superficial and deep perivascular, periadnexal and interstitial infiltrate composed of neutrophils, with some basophilic denaturation of collagen.
KW - Arthropod assault
KW - Basophilic collagen degeneration
KW - Imported fire ant
KW - Subepidermal pustule
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030253224&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85030253224&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/cup.13036
DO - 10.1111/cup.13036
M3 - Article
C2 - 28873251
AN - SCOPUS:85030253224
JO - Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
JF - Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
SN - 0303-6987
ER -