Ticks, responsible for the increase in meat allergies, are even more dangerous than previously thought.
The likelihood of a tick bite causing an allergy to red meat may be higher than previously thought, according to a new study presented at a Congress.
Research reveals that the alpha-gal causing red meat allergy – a sugar found in almost all mammalian blood except humans – is found in the tick’s saliva anyway, no matter if the little beast has recently fed on the blood of an animal. This challenges previous theories. Until now, it was thought that for a tick to trigger an allergic immune response to alpha-gal in humans, it must have recently fed on the alpha-gal-rich blood of a mammal.
A recent allergy
“Our original hypothesis was that humans developed the allergy after being exposed to alpha-gal by a tick that had fed on a deer, dog, or other small mammal with alpha -gal,” says Dr. Scott Commins, associate professor of medicine at UNC School of Medicine. “These new data suggest that ticks can induce this immune response without the need for mammalian blood, meaning the risk of each bite potentially leading to allergy is higher than expected.”
Meat allergy is relatively rare. According to the scientific literature, less than 3% of adults are subject to it. But for the past twenty years, this allergy has been spreading in the southeastern United States, on the Australian east coast and more recently in Europe, in particular because of ticks, as revealed by researchers in 2009. reaction is usually manifested by hives in the mouth, swelling and can also induce serious anaphylactic reactions, even death.
Avoid tick bites
As the allergy to meat cannot be treated, it is therefore necessary to avoid tick bites as much as possible, which are contracted mainly during an outing in the forest. To protect yourself from tick bites during your walks, use repellents and wear covering and light-colored clothing. Avoid walking in the middle of tall grass, bushes and low branches, prefer marked paths and do not lie in the grass. Inspect yourself when you return from your walks and immediately detach attached ticks using a tick remover, fine tweezers or, failing that, your gloved fingernails (do not use ether or any other product), then disinfect the wound well*.
Remember that ticks are vectors of other serious diseases, such as the famous Lyme disease.
*Source: handles. 
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