Immune response profiles after caterpillar exposure: a case report

Figures & data

Figure 1 Appearance of contact exposure reaction in an allergic asthmatic patient to the larvae of the sycamore tussock moth, Halysidota harrisii Walsh, 1864. Inflammation and induration are evident in the anticubital fossa (site of catapillar exposure) with proximal and distal radiation.

Figure 2 Picture of the larvae of the sycamore tussock moth, Halysidota harrisii Walsh, 1864.

Table 1 Immunoglobulin levels in serum of a patient with an allergic response to caterpillar exposure

Time	Immunoglobulin
	IgM	IgG	IgA	IgE
	(mg/dL)	(mg/dL)	(mg/dL)	(IU/mL)
Pre	54	725	322	181
2 hrs	47	815	339	208
3.5 hrs	52	753	317	182
12 hrs	52	760	324	193
24 hrs	69	817	337	184
36 hrs	55	805	349	198
48 hrs	55	755	323	188
1 wk	54	798	337	202
2 wks	55	760	318	191

Notes: Immunoglobulin levels in a serum IgE⁺ allergic asthmatic adult, before (pre) and after (2, 3.5, 12, 24, 36, 48 hrs and 1–2 wks) an allergic response to caterpillar hair (from the larva of the sycamore tussock moth, Halysidota harrisii Walsh, 1864), as determined by Quest Diagnostics (Nephelometry, ELISA). Data are expressed as either mg/dL or IU/mL. Quest Diagnostics reference range for healthy adult serum: IgM: 47–367 mg/dL; IgG: 648–2045 mg/dL; IgA: 55–375 mg/dL; IgE: 20–100 IU/mL.

Table 2 Distributions of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of a patient with an allergic response to caterpillar hair

Time	CD3^+CD4^+		CD3^+CD8^+		CD8^+CD60^+		CD16^+56^+		CD19^+		CD23^+
	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	Mm^3	(%)	mm^3
2hrs	51	1049	28	575	6.0	130	3.0	58	12	250	2.0	38
3.5 hrs	51	1049	29	594	7.0	140	3.0	51	12	254	1.0	23
12 hrs	48	975	29	588	6.0	114	7.0	146	10	200	1.0	19
24 hrs	54	1096	27	547	6.0	122	3.0	71	11	215	1.0	20
36 hrs	48	979	29	586	7.0	139	6.0	114	11	223	1.0	13
48 hrs	54	1106	26	541	4.0	86	3.0	51	14	289	0.5	10
1 wk	48	818	32	553	9.0	162	4.0	76	10	170	1.0	23
2 wks	46	950	31	639	8.0	160	4.0	77	11	233	0.4	9.0

Notes: The distributions of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of a serum IgE⁺ allergic asthmatic adult after (2, 3.5, 12, 24, 36, 48 hrs and 1–2 wks) an allergic response to caterpillar hair (from the larva of the sycamore tussock moth, Halysidota harrisii Walsh, 1864). Data are expressed as mean total cells/mm³ or mean percentage (%) of positive cells.

Table 3 Distributions of lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of a patient with an allergic response to caterpillar exposure

Time	CD25^+		CD4^+CD25^+		CD45 RA^+		CD45RO^+		CD1d^+ monocytes)
	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3	(%)	mm^3
2hrs	5.0	112	0	0	37	750	66	1343	90	1835
3.5 hrs	6.0	127	0	0	36	730	65	1339	92	1892
12 hrs	5.0	97	0	0	37	764	64	1307	88	1808
24 hrs	6.0	124	0	0	35	713	69	1409	92	1886
36 hrs	4.0	86	0	0	23	479	67	1366	85	1745
48 hrs	7.0	136	0	0	35	713	66	1349	85	1746
1 wk	5.0	82	0	0	35	595	70	1203	85	1461
2 wks	5.0	104	0	0	33	676	68	1395	86	1767

Notes: The distributions of lymphocyte subpopulations (activation and memory markers) in peripheral blood of a serum IgE⁺ allergic asthmatic adult after (2, 3.5, 12, 24, 36, 48 hrs and 1–2 wks) an allergic response to caterpillar hair (from the larva of the sycamore tussock moth, Halysidota harrisii Walsh, 1864). Data are expressed as mean total cells/mm³ or mean percentage (%) of positive cells.

Figure 3 Serum levels (pg/mL) of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α) determined by ELISA in patient after immune response to caterpillar exposure (2–48 hrs, 1–4 weeks post exposure). Dashed line indicates the assay detection threshold based on calibration curves.