Lone Star Tick and meat allergies

[Emily]

Are ticks changing or is our immune response to tick bites changing?

The relevance of tick bites to the production of IgE antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose

Published in final edited form as:
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 May ; 127(5): 1286?1293.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2011.02.019.
Scott P. Commins, MD, PhDa,*, Hayley R. James, BSa,*, Elizabeth A. Kelly, MDa, Shawna L. Pochan, CNM, MPHa, Lisa J. Workman, BAa, Matthew S. Perzanowski, PhD, MPHb, Katherine M. Kocan, PhDc, John V. Fahy, MDd, Lucy W. Nganga, MDe, Eva Ronmark, PhDf, Philip J. Cooper, MB BS, PhDg,h, and Thomas A. E. Platts-Mills, MD, PhD, FRSa aAsthma and Allergic Diseases Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville

Abstract
Background?In 2009, we reported a novel form of delayed anaphylaxis to red meat, which is related to serum IgE antibodies to the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal).
Most of these patients had tolerated meat for many years previously. The implication is that some exposure in adult life had stimulated the production of these IgE antibodies.
Objectives?To investigate possible causes of this IgE antibody response, focusing on evidence related to tick bites, which are common in the region where these reactions occur.
Methods?Serum assays were carried out using biotinylated proteins and extracts bound to a streptavidin ImmunoCAP.
Results?Prospective studies on IgE antibodies in three subjects following tick bites showed an increase in IgE to alpha-gal of twenty-fold or greater. Other evidence included i) a strong correlation between histories of tick bites and IgE to alpha-gal (χ2=26.8, p<0.001), ii) evidence
that these IgE antibodies are common in areas where the tick Amblyomma americanum is common, and iii) a significant correlation between IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and IgE antibodies
to proteins derived from A. americanum (rs=0.75, p<0.001).
Conclusion?The results presented here provide evidence that tick bites are a cause, or possibly the only cause, of IgE specific for alpha-gal in this area of the United States. Both the number of subjects becoming sensitized and the titer of IgE antibodies to alpha-gal are striking. Here we report the first example of a response to an ectoparasite giving rise to an important form of food allergy.

Full text available.

[Shiloh]

Lone Star Tick and meat allergies

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellnes...8#.T-SSR79pehd

Allergic to Meat: Lone Star Tick May Make Vegetarians of Some
By KATIE MOISSE (@katiemoisse)
June 20, 2012

There's a new weapon in the war on meat: a tiny tick, whose bite might be spreading meat allergies up the East Coast.

A bite from the lone star tick, so-called for the white spot on its back, looks innocent enough. But University of Virginia researchers say saliva that sneaks into the tiny wound may trigger an allergic reaction to meat -- agonizing enough to convert lifelong carnivores into wary vegetarians...

[Tonka]

Ticks cause a &quot;mysterious&quot; meat allergy

http://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2012/06/22/las-garrapatas-causan-una-misteriosa-alergia-a-la-carne/

Spanish-English translation

Ticks cause a "mysterious" meat allergy

(CNN) - Helen Olive had his first allergy attack 11 years ago. He woke to feel his neck as if on fire.
"It was terrible," said Olive, 42. "The feeling was all over my body and developed hives."
Olive, thin, wavy auburn hair and blue eyes, seemed perfectly healthy. But waking up at midnight with uncontrollable itching and nausea became commonplace in your life.

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