Tick Bites

Alpha-gal syndrome is associated with tick bites, most commonly from the Lone Star tick in the US, but also from different types of ticks in other areas of the world. During a bite, a tick injects a type of sugar molecule (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose), also called alpha-gal, which leads to formation of an antibody. Because alpha-gal is present on cells of most mammals, including cows, pigs, lambs, and goats, when affected individuals eat these animal products, an allergic reaction may occur.

Author/s:

Fatema Mollah, Mark A Zacharek, Mariel R Benjamin

Tick-borne red meat allergy (α-gal syndrome)

Rowan Hutchins — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

October 8, 2023

Journal/Publication:

CMAJ

Publisher:

CMA

Publication Date:

October 3, 2023

Issue:

Volume:

195

URL:

Tick-borne red meat allergy (α-gal syndrome)

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1503/cmaj.231067

Keywords

tick-borne illness

Allergic reactions

red meat allery

PMID (1):

37788844

MeSH

Tick Bites

Ticks

Allergic

A consice summary of the cause, diagnosis, and consequences of alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy secondary to tick bite). James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Tick-borne red meat allergy occurs from sensitization to a carbohydrate, galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal)

The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is commonly found in the southern United States, but its prevalence in Canada is increasing.1 The tick’s saliva contains a high level of α-gal, a carbohydrate antigen also present in nonprimate mammalian cell membranes.2 Skin and bloodstream exposure to this antigen through a tick bite leads to sensitization to the carbohydrate and, subsequently, to red meat allergy.

Author/s:

Jeimy, Samira, Zhu, Rongbo

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease

Saige Blanchard — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

March 10, 2022

Journal/Publication:

Journal of the American Medical Association

Publisher:

American Medical Association

URL:

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2022.0081

Keywords

MeSH

While there have been very few documented cases of Lyme disease in Oklahoma, diagnostic testing is often considered. This is a concise summary of the evidence regarding diagnostic tests for Lyme disease and how and when to use or not use them. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the US, occurring predominantly in the Northeast, the upper Midwest, and Northern California, with increasing incidence and geographic range.1 Lyme disease can cause a skin lesion at the site of the initial tick bite as well as disseminated disease, including neuropathy, meningitis, acute myocarditis/pericarditis (often with associated conduction abnormalities), and arthritis. Accurate diagnosis is the first step in the optimal management of Lyme disease.

Author/s:

Pitrak, D, Nguyen, C. T., Cifu, A. S.