Thursday, June 28, 2012

RESEARCH NEWS: Lone Star Tick Bites Linked to Meat Allergies

White-tailed deer are a major host for Lone Star Ticks. Connections between tick-borne diseases, ticks, and deer are complex and not always intuitive. That said, this is pretty strange:
University of Virginia researchers announced last week that they have found a connection between Lone Star Tick (Amblyoma americanum) bites and allergic reaction to meat. This new allergy to meat called Alpha-Gal presents itself 4-6 hours after consumption of beef, pork or lamb and symptoms can vary between hives to anaphylactic shock. So far, doctors have diagnosed over 1,500 people with Alpha-Gal as a result of Lone Star Tick bites.
Source: Houston Chronicle