Ticks - Alpha Gal Syndrome

[Bayleaf]

Wasn't sure where to put this - nearly attached it to Liz's thread, but that's in Pets. This is for humans, and I thought it worth a mention...

This is not a well known condition caused by tick infection, but it does seem to be finally getting more recognition. Especially as we have so many ticks in France.

OH has suffered this bizarre condition on and off for many years now. First time it happened - of course we were totally in the dark. He must have had a recent tick infection, eaten red meat (a burger on this occasion), and the chemical reaction in his body resulted in a massive anaphylactic shock. I'll spare you the grim details, but eventually after much testing by a specialist in Périgueux who had only heard of this happening once before in France (it's mostly in America by the Lone Star Tick), it was deduced that if OH gets a tick "bite", he may react to any ingestion of red meat that may also have been infected. It's called Alpha Gal Syndrome, or MMA - Mammalian Meat Allergy.

After six months or so after said tick "bite", it does diminish and wear off. But recently, he had another spate of bad reactions, and doesn't recall any tick bite - unless just didn't notice, and thought it was a chigger bite maybe. The ticks I've had to extract from myself this year (being a gardener by profession) have been so tiny, I guess for blokes with tougher skin, it may not itch so much.

Our Dr at the time of the first incident had never heard of it, and our current Doc also hasn't heard of it. But it exists, and there is no treatment or desensitizing apparently. All types of red meat are strictly off the menu - including pork.

So, not just Lyme's disease from ticks. Also this to be aware of, especially if you are prone to allergies ....

https://www.lymedisease.org/alpha-gal-syndrome/

Reading through that link, it looks like we need to check all his medications, etc., as some may contain the AG (including vaccines.)

[exile]

Thank you for that warning Bayleaf. Even if it is very rare, for those of us more likely to be exposed to ticks, it is well to be aware.

[MAD87]

Sorry to hear that BL. Looking at your link shows just how extensive the list of "forbidden" foods is.

[Doug]

Back in the Lot we both had been bitten by them, they hang on trees and bushed dropping onto victims, usualy animals.
Knowing the problems they cause it was a fast trip to our dr for medication. My first one caused a very strong flue like reaction but soon recovered.

[Bayleaf]

Back in the Lot we both had been bitten by them, they hang on trees and bushed dropping onto victims, usualy animals.
Knowing the problems they cause it was a fast trip to our dr for medication. My first one caused a very strong flue like reaction but soon recovered.

Yes, reacting to the actual tick is nasty too - but different to OH's (he has to be different!). Your reaction sounds like a Dutch friend of our's who recently got infected - despite having a daily tick check after he'd been out in the fields sorting out his horses. He came down with flu-like symptoms and was sent home from work (he's an HGV driver). Was told to get tested for Covid, as he was still unaware of a tick. Several days later, his right leg was extremely swollen and suddenly it was obvious where the tick had been. So, anti-biotics and rest prescribed. Usually, if a tick is discovered and removed within 12 or so hours (and liberal amounts of suitable liquid applied to site), it shouldn't cause a problem.

Bloody ticks! What's the point of them anyway???!

[Spardo]

One of the very few animals, along with fleas, that I will deliberately kill on sight and am always very vigilant walking as I am in the wild every day. Thank you for alerting us nevertheless.

[Blaze]

Sorry to hear about that, Bayleaf. A double whammy, being bitten by an infected tick and eating infected meat, which would presumably never have been checked for any tick infection.

Whilst on a camping holiday recently, we met someone who contracted Lyme disease 7 year ago. She was diagnosed several weeks after being bitten having shown no symptoms initially and was told that the bacteria would remain in her body permanently. There is no cure and whilst the symptoms may disappear for a while, they can return at any times. Only symptomatic treatment is available.

Does this mean you OH can never touch meat/animal derivatives for the rest of his life ? I read the article, which was very interesting, but wasn't sure whether AGS remained in the system forever.

We lived in a forested area for many years where ticks were rife. This area is not nearly so bad being marais but they are present all the same. A friend here has had Lyme Disease for several years which she must have picked up from a tick bite in this area as she had not been anywhere else.

[Bayleaf]

Does this mean you OH can never touch meat/animal derivatives for the rest of his life ? I read the article, which was very interesting, but wasn't sure whether AGS remained in the system forever.

The AGS is supposed to diminish over time. That's why he's been able to eat red meat without problem sometimes. But it's a mystery this time, as there's no evidence of a recent tick. I can't believe that so much meat is affected - even freezing before cooking didn't work this time, we were totally caught out*. Perhaps it's just mammals in general, as that article suggested that some people could be affected from dairy or gelatin, or active ingredients in medications/vaccines. All very odd, but we were trying to cut out red meat anyway - so it's just speeded up this process somewhat!

*As an aside, as OH didn't have a full epipen anymore, out of desparation he cracked open one that had given it's two doses already. There is actually a small vial of a third dose in there which he used. Useful to know!

[Blaze]

Perhaps AGS can lie dormant and flare up from time to time as Lyme disease can. Having to carry an Epipen must be inconvenient at times - I seem to remember you saying that your OH had left it in his van when he had an attack.
Giving up red meat must be hard if you enjoy it and if you're physically active, but it's the animal by-products that can be hidden. Does the reaction come via the digestive system or could topical applications of products containing, say, glycerine or lanolin also cause a reaction ? It's an interesting subject that clearly needs more attention in France. They don't have all the answers for Lyme disease either ....

[Bayleaf]

Yes, could be so. Usually, it's ingestion. Say, evening meal about 7.30pm, a reaction will normally happen around 3am ish. Touch wood, diary products don't seem to have an effect .... let's hope it stays that way. For a chef who is passionate about all things food, it's a real stinger.

It's certainly on the increase, unless it's being more frequently reported and was just a mystery before:


"Alpha-gal syndrome is a much more common allergy in the U.S. today than it was a decade ago, with the number of laboratory-confirmed cases growing from 12 in 2009 to over 34,000 in 2019."