A bite from a Lone Star tick may cause meat allergy.
Alpha-gal allergy, also known as meat allergy or mammalian meat allergy (MMA), is an immune reaction to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). Although still controversial, it has been proposed that Lone star ticks (a.k.a Amblyomma americanum) have been linked to meat allergy. The alpha-gal sugar from the tick can be transmitted to the patient through a tick bite causing sensitization and ultimately allergic reactions to red meat. Continue reading “Tick Bites Linked to Meat Allergy”