Tick That Causes Red Meat Allergy Becoming More Common In Maryland 

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A tick that may make individuals allergic to purple meat known as the lone star tick is changing into extra frequent in Maryland. 

“This one has turn out to be extra frequent in our space, really the previous couple of years that is the commonest tick we get into our tick-testing service for identification,” stated Dr. Michael Raupp, A professor of entomology on the College of Maryland. 

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The lone star tick’s chunk, named for a small white mark on its again, may cause alpha-gal syndrome, a life-long allergic response to purple meat. 

“I began breaking out each time I might eat hamburger,” Keith Tremel of Edgewater stated.

Tremel was bit by a lone star tick about 5 years in the past and was recognized with the allergy. 

He can not eat pork or beef however that has not stopped him from participating in certainly one of his favourite pastimes, aggressive barbecuing. 

“I can’t style the meat I’m turning into the judges, so I’m the again of my thoughts I’m all the time nervous I’m like what’s this going to be,” he stated. 

Dr. Lucas Carlson, an emergency doctor at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital informed WJZ that alpha-gal syndrome is a comparatively new analysis.  

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He defined that lone star ticks get hold of the carbohydrate that causes the meat allergy, known as alpha-gal, by feeding on mammals.

If the tick later bites a human, it injects the carbohydrate into them and their immune system might reply to it. 

“When it’s uncovered to that carbohydrates molecule sooner or later, after consuming meat, the particular person will develop an allergic response,” Carlson stated. 

The allergic response might solely trigger hives in some individuals however might be extra extreme in others, corresponding to anaphylaxis.

Carlson recommends seeing a physician when you suppose you could be having an allergic response, particularly when you develop anaphylaxis. 

Not each lone star tick carries the carbohydrate that causes the allergy, and Carlson stated that most individuals who get bit by one won’t turn out to be allergic to purple meat. 

“It’s nonetheless a comparatively uncommon phenomenon to develop this meat allergy, even in response to a lone star tick,” he stated. 

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Whereas there is no such thing as a remedy for alpha-gal syndrome, Tremel stated he’s in search of the assistance of an acupuncturist, who claims their remedy would enable him to eat purple meat once more.