Alpha-gal syndrome
From IDWiki
Background
- A meat allergy caused by exposure to certain tick bites
- Caused by an IgE-mediated reaction to the carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal)
| Region | Tick |
|---|---|
| Australia | Ixodes holocyclus and Ixodes australiensis |
| United States | Amblyomma americanum |
| Europe (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain) | Ixodes ricinus |
| Asia (Japan and South Korea) | Haemoaphysalis longicornis and Amblyomma testudinarium |
| Panama | Amblyomma cajennense |
| South Africa | possibly Amblyomma hebraeum |
Clinical Manifestations
- Rash, hives, nausea/vomiting, dyspnea, hypotension, and abdominal pain
- Onset is usually 3 to 8 hours following ingestion of mammalian meat
- Can include dairy products and some gelatin-containing medications and vaccines
Further Reading
- Diagnosis and Management of Patients with the α-Gal Syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jan;8(1):15-23.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.09.017. PMID: 31568928; PMCID: PMC6980324.
