@article{ref1,
title="Imported fire ant envenomation: a clinicopathologic study of a recognizable form of arthropod assault reaction",
journal="Journal of cutaneous pathology",
year="2017",
author="Villada, Gabriel and Hafeez, Farhaan and Ollague, Jose and Nousari, Carlos H. and Elgart, George W.",
volume="44",
number="12",
pages="1012-1017",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Skin reactions to the sting of the imported fire ant have characteristic clinicopathological features. <br><br>METHODS: One case of experimental envenomation was prospectively followed during 48 hours, with biopsies. In addition, six 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, vasculitis. <br><br>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 six 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. <br><br>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.<br><br>This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0303-6987",
doi="10.1111/cup.13036",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cup.13036"
}