Anaphylactic shock with pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration due to honeybee attack in a donkey: case report

E Zache,A.Q Andrade Neto,L Almeida,J.A.B Afonso,R.R Colares,J.F Cajueiro,A Arenales,M.I Souza

doi:10.1590/1678-4162-12180

Abstract

ABSTRACT A case of a donkey attacked by Africanized honeybee is reported here with clinical signs of agitation, dehydration, congestion of the ocular mucous membranes, tongue edema, tachycardia and inspiratory dyspnea, and progression to death. At necropsy, diffuse, severe subcutaneous edema at face and cervical regions and severe diffuse pulmonary hyperemia with abundant edema without parenchymal collapse were observed. Microscopically, marked, diffuse deep dermis and panniculus carnosus edema and marked diffuse alveolar edema, with moderate population of eosinophils predominantly around larger caliber vessels were noted. The final diagnosis of anaphylactic shock was supported by history, clinical signs, and anatomic pathology findings. This is the first report of a honeybee attack with pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration in a mammal.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONAccidental bites due to Hymenoptera order insects occurs commonly in human beings (Langley and Morrow, 1997; Vetter et al, 1999), but are infrequently observed in veterinary routine (Fighera et al, 2007) and few cases are described in equines in Brazil (Fonteque et al, 2018; Ribeiro et al, 2020; Veado et al, 2020)
The final diagnosis of anaphylactic shock was supported by history, clinical signs, and anatomic pathology findings
This is the first report of a honeybee attack with pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration in a mammal

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Accidental bites due to Hymenoptera order insects occurs commonly in human beings (Langley and Morrow, 1997; Vetter et al, 1999), but are infrequently observed in veterinary routine (Fighera et al, 2007) and few cases are described in equines in Brazil (Fonteque et al, 2018; Ribeiro et al, 2020; Veado et al, 2020). Clinical signs vary greatly in domestic species, from type I hypersensitivity with local allergic reaction due to a few stings or anaphylactic shock in animals with more sensibility, to severe cases with massive swarm attack, resulting in toxic systemic reaction (Sakate, 2008) and type IV hypersensitivity with local granulomas (Mauldin and Peters-Kennedy, 2016). Renal changes of rare foci in the cortical region with tubular epithelial necrosis and seldom intraluminal tubular cylinders composed of cellular debris These macroscopic and microscopic changes in addition to the history and clinical data allowed to conclude the cause of death as an anaphylactic shock

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION