Ocular Lesions Other Than Stings Following Yellow-Legged Hornet (<i>Vespa velutina nigrithorax</i>) Projections, as Reported to French Poison Control Centers
Hervé Laborde‐Castérot, Éric Darrouzet, Gaël Le Roux, Magali Labadie, Nicolas Delcourt, Luc de Haro, Dominique Vodovar, Jérôme Langrand, Emmanuel Puskarczyk, Christine Tournoud, Weniko Caré, Laurène Dufayet, Fanny Pélissier, Nicolas Franchitto, Camille Paradis, Nicolas Simon, Patrick Nisse, Anne Landreau, Anne-Marie Patat, Marie Deguigne, Marion Legeay
Abstract
Importance: Since the accidental introduction of the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) in France in 2004, there have been reports of this insect unexpectedly projecting a liquid toward the human face, but ocular morbidity associated with this is unknown, to our knowledge. Objective: To describe a case series of ocular lesions after exposure to a liquid projection emitted by a hornet. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was an analysis of all cases of ocular exposure to a projection by a yellow-legged hornet (excluding stings in the eye) collected by French poison control centers between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Symptoms were evaluated, and a fluorescein eye stain test was used. Results: Twenty-nine cases were recorded (24 in male and 5 in female patients; median age, 40 [interquartile range, 11] years); the first occurred in 2009. Most cases (20 [80%]) were occupational exposure among professionals dealing with hornet nests (eg, firefighters, wasp exterminators). Symptoms consistent with conjunctivitis often resolved quickly after ocular decontamination, but 5 patients developed a periorbital edema, 2 experienced radiating neuropathic pain, and 2 experienced keratitis. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that the projection of a liquid into the eyes by the yellow-legged hornet presents a new risk to human health, but its precise nature remains to be determined. Ocular lesions had a favorable outcome. For professionals who deal with these insects, adaptation of the usual protections designed for native hymenopterans may be warranted.