United States: The tick problem proves worse than previously anticipated.
Experts report from recent studies show that additional tick species across the United States are capable of causing a peculiar allergic reaction to red meat.
More about the news
Medical experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with local health officials, published their findings through the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases during the last week of July.
The investigations present instances of red meat allergy, which is designated as alpha-gal syndrome originating from two tick varieties, which typically do not transmit the condition and also transmit Lyme disease, gizmodo.com reported.
Testing indicates a wider risk than previously understood within the population, even though the syndrome appears rarely in medical reports.
The sugar compound known as Alpha-gal exists within the muscles of all mammalian species except human beings.
Explanation by the experts
People usually have no problems with alpha-gal present in consumed meats.
After receiving a tick bite, some bodies start generating excessive immune reactions to alpha-gal, which leads to an allergy condition toward beef products and milk products.
Food allergies from alpha-gal represent the sole type that responds to sugar molecules instead of protein elements.
CDC confirms black-legged ticks can cause red meat allergy in humans 🧬🥩🧪 #AlphaGalSyndrome #TickBite #Allergy #MeatAllergy #IxodesScapularis #Maine #PublicHealth #RedMeat #Zoonotic #EmergingDiseases @CDC_NCEZID pic.twitter.com/A5vJ1IT7Ve
— News Medical (@NewsMedical) March 24, 2025
Symptoms from this food allergy normally require more time, extending from hours to delay their appearance after exposure. Studies describe a Washington woman who received an unknown species tick bite in 2017 that resulted in alpha-gal development, gizmodo.com reported.
The dietary changes required her to adopt vegetarianism. A span of three years elapsed until she received a second tick bite.
The analysis of her blood revealed a sharp increase in alpha-gal antibodies even though she would not show symptoms due to her dietary changes.
She successfully gathered the bug to perform tests, which turned out to be Ixodes pacificus or western black-legged tick.