Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) as Overlooked Predators of Anurans in the Neotropics

Posted by
  Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) as Overlooked Predators of Anurans in the Neotropics ABSTRACT Arthropods are traditionally viewed as invertebrate prey and as predators of other invertebrates, whereas vertebrates are typically considered their predators. However, this paradigm has increasingly been challenged, particularly among arachnids. While several invertebrates are well documented as frog predators, the capacity of particular groups, such as harvestmen (Opiliones), to prey on vertebrates has remained largely anecdotal. Here we report novel field observations of anuran predation by multiple Cranaidae harvestman species across several Neotropical localities. These records include the active capture and consumption of live frogs, demonstrating their role as opportunistic mesopredators. Our findings expand current knowledge of Opiliones ecology by confirming that vertebrate predation occurs across multiple species and localities. Our results suggest that vertebrate consumption...

Elderly Patients and Insect Venom Allergy: Are the Clinical Pictures and Immunological Parameters of Venom Allergy Age-Dependent?

Posted by

 


Elderly Patients and Insect Venom Allergy: Are the Clinical Pictures and Immunological Parameters of Venom Allergy Age-Dependent?

Abstract

Insect venom is one of the most common triggers of anaphylaxis in the elderly population. Venom immunotherapy (VIT) remains the only treatment for Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA). However, little is known about the differences in indication for VIT in the group of patients aged 60 years and older. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical and diagnostic differences of HVA in elderly patients. The study compared data from patients aged ≥ 60 (N = 132) to data from patients aged from 11 to 60 years (N = 750) in terms of HVA severity, comorbidities, and immunological parameters, namely, intradermal testing (IDT), specific IgE (sIgE) levels against extracts and major allergenic molecules, and serum tryptase level (sBT). The severity of systemic HVA (I–IV Müller scale) did not differ between adults and seniors. However, the severity of cardiovascular reactions (IV) increased with age, while the frequency of respiratory reactions (III) decreased. No differences were found in the immunological parameters of sensitization IDT, venom-specific IgE concentrations, or sIgE against Api m 1, 2, 4, 5, and 10 between patients below and above 60 or 65 years of age. Differences were noted for sIgE against Ves v1 and Ves v5; they were higher and lower, respectively, in seniors. In the seniors group, sBT levels were higher. Elevated tryptase levels, along with the aging process, can represent a risk factor within this age category. Nevertheless, advanced age does not influence the immunological parameters of immediate HVA reactions, nor does it impact the diagnosis of HVA.

Pawłowicz, Robert, Andrzej Bożek, Anna Dor-Wojnarowska, Marta Rosiek-Biegus, Agnieszka Kopeć, Małgorzata Gillert-Smutnicka, Małgorzata Sobieszczańska, and Marita Nittner-Marszalska. 2024. "Elderly Patients and Insect Venom Allergy: Are the Clinical Pictures and Immunological Parameters of Venom Allergy Age-Dependent?" Vaccines 12, no. 4: 394. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040394