Un brote de dermatitis producido por picaduras de Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) en Costa Rica, América Central / An outbreak of dermatitis produced by the stings of Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) in Costa Rica. Central America

Resumen:Se describe un brote de dermatitis producido por la picadura de una pequeña avispa áptera Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), en un grupo de estudiantes de un colegio de San José, capital de Costa Rica. Se encontró también al escarabajo xilófago Calymmaderus pupatus (Coleoptera, Ptinidae), que sirve de huésped a la avispita, la cual necesita depositar sus huevos, como parasitoide, en las larvas del coleóptero para su reproducción. Casos autóctonos de esta dermatitis se conocen en los cinco continentes y esto contrasta con la ausencia de reportes procedentes de América Central.Los lugares en donde se observaron las lesiones, a veces numerosas en la misma persona, fueron: brazos, cuello, piernas, espalda, abdomen, pecho, cara y codos. El tipo de lesión se caracteriza por dolor y ardor en el momento de la picadura, seguido de una pápula eritematosa de tamaño variable, hasta un centímetro de diámetro e intenso prurito, con una duración de una a dos semanas. Se observaron cuadros urticariformes y angioedematosos e inclusive infecciones secundarias como consecuencia del rascado.El problema se atacó con una fumigación dirigida al coleóptero, con un insecticida capaz de penetrar la madera llena de galerías del escarabajo y sus larvas. Pocos días después de la fumigación, se encontraron numerosos ptínidos adultos muertos, así como gran cantidad de betílidos, en los muebles dañados por el escarabajo.

Abstract:This article describes an outbreak of dermatitis caused by stings from a small apterous wasp, Sclerodermus sp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), among a group of students attending a school in San José, of Costa Rica. Also present was the xylophagous beetle, Calymmaderus pupatus (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), which serves as a host for this parasitic wasp and on which the wasp depends for its reproduction. The female wasps lay their eggs on the beetle larvae in the wood and the wasp larvae develop as parasitoids. Autochthonous cases of dermatitis caused by bethylid wasps are known from all other five continents but, as far as we are aware, this is the first report from Latin America, and the first report of Sclerodermus from Central America.The sites in which the lesions were located, sometimes numerous in the same person, were: arms, neck, legs, back, abdomen, breast, face and elbows. The type of lesionwas characterized by being painful, with a burning sensation, at the moment of the sting, followed by an erythematous papule lesion of variable size, up to one centimeter in diameter and with intense pruritus, lasting from one to two weeks. Urticariform lesions and angioedema were observed, as well as secondary infections consequence of the scratching of the lesions.The problem was solved by a fumigation directed against the coleoptera beetle, with an insecticide capable of penetrating the wood that was filled with tunnels made by the adult beetles and larvae. A few days after the fumigation numerous dead beetles and bethylid wasps were found in the furniture damaged by the beetles.

A case of stings in humans caused by Sclerodermus sp. in Italy

In the last years, stings of Sclerodermus species in humans have been sporadically reported in Italy. In order to draw attention to these bethylid wasps of medical importance, we report the case of documented Sclerodermus sp. stings on the dorsum, abdomen, arms, and thighs of a 40-year-old man and his wife. The sting sites developed raised red itchy rash. The source of environmental contamination was identified in a worm-eaten sofa purchased from a used furniture dealer and placed in the living room about a month and half earlier. The lesions on the man and his wife rapidly healed within 3 to 4 days once they left the house and treatment for the lesions was instituted. Physicians, dermatologists, medical and public health entomologists, as well as specific categories of workers should be aware of the risk of exposure to Sclerodermus stings.

A case of stings in humans caused by Sclerodermus sp. in Italy

In the last years, stings of Sclerodermus species in humans have been sporadically reported in Italy. In order to draw attention to these bethylid wasps of medical importance, we report the case of documented Sclerodermus sp. stings on the dorsum, abdomen, arms, and thighs of a 40-year-old man and his wife. The sting sites developed raised red itchy rash. The source of environmental contamination was identified in a worm-eaten sofa purchased from a used furniture dealer and placed in the living room about a month and half earlier. The lesions on the man and his wife rapidly healed within 3 to 4 days once they left the house and treatment for the lesions was instituted. Physicians, dermatologists, medical and public health entomologists, as well as specific categories of workers should be aware of the risk of exposure to Sclerodermus stings.