ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE BASED RISK FACTORS WITH DEVELOPMENT OF VENOM-SPECIFIC IgG1 AND IgG4 CLASS OF ANTIBODIES IN INDIAN BEEKEEPERS

Repeated sting reactions in beekeepers have been reported to elicit immune response leadings to natural desensitization and development of tolerance. Development of tolerance has been attributed to antibody class switching in favor of blocking antibodies viz. IgG1, IgG4. This process seems to be similar to the immunotherapy. Genetic and environmental factors are known to play important role in development of immune response. There is a lack of information on the effect of risk factors like duration spent in the bee keeping, frequency of stings on immune profile. The present study was undertaken to analyze the effect of duration spent in the bee keeping, frequency of stings on venom specific IgG1, IgG4, IgG levels.

Present study was conducted in apiaries across Kurukshetra Districts of Haryana State of India. A questionnaire was administered to 53 bee keepers and 16 controls. BKs were classified in different grouped based on duration spent in the bee keeping, sting frequency and intensity of skin reaction after the sting. Bee venom specific IgG1, IgG4, IgG levels were estimated by ELISA.

A significant association between venom specific IgG4 antibodies and duration spent in the bee keeping, sting frequency was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, Bee keepers showing large local reaction showed significantly reduced levels of venom specific IgG4 antibodies as compared to tolerant bee keepers. However, a negative association was observed between the duration spent in the bee keeping and venom specific IgG1 levels.

Current study reveals that duration spent in the bee keeping, sting frequency has significant effect on the immune profile. Further, the bee keepers showing increased tolerance toward the sting reaction had higher levels of IgG4 antibodies as compared to control subjects.