A U.S. man who died earlier this year after eating a beef burger is thought to be the first person to have succumbed to red meat allergy triggered by a tick bite.
The diagnosis was recently confirmed through post mortem blood testing, which revealed extremely high levels of antibodies to alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in mammalian meat and transmitted to humans via tick saliva. The clinical case was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – In Practice. Additional reporting can be found on the NBC news website.
In 2007, Australian researchers were among the first to identify the link between tick bites and delayed allergic reactions to red meat. The condition, known as alpha-gal syndrome, is characterised by delayed allergic reactions, often occurring several hours after eating red meat. Symptoms can include gastrointestinal distress, hives, and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
Diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome remains a challenge, as awareness among healthcare professionals is limited and symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions. Not everyone bitten by a tick will develop the allergy, but those who do may need to avoid red meat and certain dairy products. In some cases, the allergy may diminish over time if further tick bites are avoided.
Ongoing surveillance around the world indicates the prevalence of red meat allergy continues to grow as awareness increases and tick habitats expand due to climate change and increasing populations of host organisms.
Information about mammalian meat allergy in Australia can be found on the Allergy Facts website.
