Manhattan, Kansas (KSNT) – What is the tick-borne syndrome that causes meat allergies? A Kansas professor and entomologist found out firsthand when he ended up in the emergency room with anaphylactic shock.
Brian McCornack, head of the entomology department at Kansas State University, went to the emergency room after eating barbecue in September and said he had been experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms since August.
“I didn’t know what it was until I took the seminar. [then I] “I started piecing a lot of the pieces together,” McCornack says. “There’s a two-hour delay after you eat red meat, so when you eat red meat, the meat breaks down, it gets into your bloodstream, and your immune system basically responds.”
The syndrome McCornack suffered from is called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS for short. When a tick bites you, it can contain a sugar molecule called alpha-gal in its saliva. If alpha-gal enters your bloodstream, it can trigger an immune response. For many people, this means avoiding products that contain mammalian meat.
of CDC According to reports, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS have been confirmed in the United States between 2010 and 2022. However, the number is likely much higher because AGS is not a nationally reportable disease.
McCornack says it took several months for AGS to develop in his body, and now, within two hours of eating a steak, he gets shortness of breath and breaks out in itchy hives. If he eats enough, his airways can narrow and he can go into shock.
“When I eat steak, it takes a long time to digest,” McCormack says, “It’s not the steak itself that’s the problem, it’s the sugars that are digested that react with my body and my immune system… That’s the simplest form: Once it’s broken down, your immune system sees it as a foreign substance.”
People with alpha-gal syndrome are often advised to stop eating mammalian meats like pork, lamb, venison, rabbit and beef, as well as dairy products, but the CDC notes that some patients may not have a reaction. All Products Containing Alpha-Gal.
“Meat is in everything. Really, everything has meat in it, even cheese. Ice cream – if you eat it, you’re bound to have a bad reaction,” McCornack says. “With meat in medicines, we’ve had to work closely with pharmacists to make sure the medicines don’t cause anaphylactic shock. In the case of real aspirin, they use synthetic agents, and in the case of generics, they use substances derived from animals.”
McCornack said he thought he’d been bitten by a tick while taking his dog for a walk, after which he found two Lone Star ticks — one a larva that had swelled up and attached itself to his body, and the other an adult male.
McCornack said he doesn’t know how long he’ll live with the syndrome – some people recover after a few years, while others may live with the condition for 12 to 15 years or more.
What is a Lone Star Tick?
Lone star ticks are similar to other ticks, but Description They are fast-moving, aggressive biters. Adult female Lone Star ticks are the largest and have a single white dot on their back. Male Lone Star ticks are smaller and have a visible black line on their back.
This year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment The Kansas State Department of Health (KDHE) is warning Kansans about an increase in tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses, after the department said it has received more than 200 laboratory reports of tick-borne illnesses.
“Both tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases are extremely active this year,” Dr. Erin Petro, KDHE State Public Health Veterinarian, said in June 2024. “I urge people to take the risk of vector-borne diseases seriously and take personal protective measures to reduce the chances of yourself and your pets becoming ill from tick or mosquito bites. There are also new tick-related illnesses emerging, such as alpha-gal syndrome, which can have lifelong consequences for those infected, which is why bite prevention is so important.”
What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?
Alpha-gal syndrome, also known as AGS, is a potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat and mammalian products. CDC.
Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome are consistent with other allergic reactions, including hives or itchy skin, coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. Other symptoms may include nausea or vomiting, severe stomach pain, heartburn or indigestion, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and dizziness or fainting, according to the CDC.
Earlier this year, Kansas State University was awarded a $199,968 grant to its Department of Entomology to “build awareness and resilience to alpha-gal syndrome in rural Kansas” as part of the 2024 Global Food Systems Seed Grants program.
“They are [ticks] “Ticks are everywhere in our environment,” McCornack said. “It’s really important to recognize them – catch them early and do a tick check to make sure they’re not there. Check everywhere. If you have a tick on you, you’ve got a chance.”
