Premium
Clinical and immunological surveys in bee keepers
Author(s) -
BOUSQUET J.,
COULOMB Y.,
ROBINETLEVY M.,
MICHEL F. B.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1982.tb02537.x
Subject(s) - bee venom , immunoglobulin e , medicine , anaphylaxis , immunology , allergy , sting , honey bee , biology , antibody , botany , zoology , engineering , aerospace engineering
Summary Two hundred and fifty bee keepers in the South of France, working seasonally, were clinically investigated by means of a questionnaire. Forty‐three percent had presented anaphylactic symptoms and 7.0%, toxic reactions when stung by bees. The personal atopic history was found to be significantly ( P < 0.01) elevated in bee keepers who experienced anaphylaxis. Total serum IgE and bee venom‐specific IgE were titrated in 100 subjects. Total serum IgE was significantly elevated in allergic bee keepers ( P = 0.02). Although bee venom‐specific IgE were significantly ( P < 0.01) higher in allergic bee keepers this parameter cannot discriminate between allergic and non‐allergic bee keepers owing to a considerable overlap. Bee venom‐specific IgG was assayed in seventy subjects. Their level was significantly ( P < 0.001) higher in allergic and non‐allergic bee keepers as compared with non‐allergic blood donors and non‐bee‐keeping allergic patients. In both bee keeper groups there was no difference in bee venom‐specific IgG titres.