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SALT LAKE CITY — When many people hear the words “tick bite,” the first thing they think of is Lyme disease. Caused by the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, the painful disease is spread when infected ticks bite humans. However, now doctors are reporting another consequence of tick bites: meat allergies.
Not all tick species have this alarming effect. Ticks in Utah have not been proven to impede your meat eating in the least. The culprit is a jumbo-sized species known as the Lone Star tick. Easily distinguished by the prominent white spot on their backs, this aggressive tick has steadily fanned out from its traditional range in the southeastern and south-central states. It’s now being found as far north as Maine.
According to a CBS News report, occurrences of tick-caused meat allergies are growing more common as Lone Star tick populations continue to expand. Dr. Scott Commins, at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, told CBS News that he sees "two to three new cases every week.”
In New York, where the ticks are found in large numbers, Dr. Erin McGintee has treated nearly 200 cases in the last few years alone. About 30 of those cases involved children, some as young as 5.
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With hunting season in full swing, many Utahns are outdoors hiking through brush and dealing with animals that may have ticks. In the event that you have a tick bite and burrow into you, here are some tips to safely and efficiently remove the insect."It is bizarre," McGintee said. "It goes against almost anything I've ever learned as an allergist."
So how can an arachnid bite cause you to suddenly become allergic to hamburgers? Experts say Lone Star tick bites transmit a sugar called alpha-gal, which is also present in meats like beef, venison and pork.
Our bodies normally process alpha-gal just fine when it’s in our food, but certain tick bites trigger the immune system to identify alpha-gal as a foreign substance and build up antibodies against it. This can result in causing someone who safely ate red meat for 40 years to possibly have a serious allergic reaction when eating a steak after being bitten by a Lone Star tick.
While some people who have suffered allergic reactions have been able to control the problem with antihistamines, the severe cases require epinephrine.
One glimmer of hope is that research indicates the meat-repelling antibodies may decline over the years.
“It does not seem to be lifelong,” Commins said. “But the caveat is, additional tick bites bring it back.”
Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.
