Pharmacological and Immunological Properties of Wasp Venom

Animal toxin envenomations have medical as well as ecological significance. Toxin-producing animals are categorized under either venomous group or poisonous group. Venomous animals are capable of producing and delivering the toxin during a biting or stinging act whereas poisonous animals are those whose tissues, either in whole or in part, are toxic. [1] About 75% of the world’s animal species are arthropods—a few of which have appreciable interaction with humans and is capable of causing significant medical problems. [2] Hymenopterous insects, snakes and spiders are the three animal groups most often responsible for human deaths attributable to venomous animals. [1] However, the evolution of venom in these animals has its own purpose of balancing the ecosystem and maintaining its position in the food chain. Hymenoptera is an insect order under phylum arthropoda. It is the third largest of all insect order, and perhaps the most beneficial to humans. The order Hymenoptera comprises approximately 115,000 described species which includes wasps, bees, ants, ichneu‐ mons, calchids, sawflies etc. Collectively, the Hymenoptera are most important to humans as pollinators of wild and cultivated flowering plants, as parasites of destructive insects and as makers of honey and beeswax. Nonetheless, the order poses significant public health concern as well. [3] The three medically important group of stinging insect of the order Hymenoptera belong to the families of Apidae (bees), Vespidae (paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, commonly referred as wasps) and Formicidae (ants). [4] The sting from these social wasp become clinically significant if the patient is allergic to Hymenoptera venom or if the patient is exposed to large quantity of the venom due to massive or multiple stings. Most deaths related to wasp stings are the result of immediate hypersensitivity reactions causing anaphylaxis. A single sting is sufficient to cause fatal anaphylaxis in hypersensitive patients. Massive enve‐