Just one bite from this strange insect, and the “victim” will immediately turn into a vegetarian.
If you want to become a vegetarian but struggle to give up your favorite meat dishes, just let this strange insect bite you – you will become a vegetarian instantly.
It is a tick known as the Lone Star Tick because of a strange mark on its back.
When it bites humans, the Lone Star Tick can cause a troubling disorder known as Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), which makes the victim allergic to red meat.
The anaphylactic shock in AGS is not caused by the meat itself, but by the sugar molecule galactose-α-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal, found in certain foods, primarily red meat, as well as dairy products and gelatin.
Alpha-gal is limited to mammals, which means not all kinds of meat cause an allergy since alpha-gal is not found in fish, birds, or reptiles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If bitten by a Lone Star Tick and developing AGS, symptoms can appear within about two hours after consuming unsuitable foods. Symptoms include coughing, nausea, vomiting, rash, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. The severity of AGS varies by patient. Some may only experience mild symptoms, while others may face dangerous symptoms like anaphylactic shock. The level of reaction differs, but in severe cases, patients may struggle to breathe and feel as if they are being burned whenever they eat meat.
The Allergy Mechanism is believed to be related to tick saliva, which contains proteins with alpha-gal molecules. Their presence leads to hypersensitivity of IgE antibodies to the sugar, causing subsequent exposure to alpha-gal to trigger an allergic reaction. The increase of certain B cells is also associated with an excessive immune response to alpha-gal. Just one bite from a Lone Star Tick can result in a lifelong allergy to red meat.
Initially, this Lone Star Tick only lived in the southern United States, parasitizing on white-tailed deer. However, as deer were moved to various locations, the ticks began to expand their habitat. Thus, it is not too difficult for you to come into contact with one of these unique insects.
| Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) is commonly found in the eastern United States and Mexico. They require blood to develop at every stage of their life cycle, which has evolved their ability to latch onto a variety of hosts, from turkeys to deer and humans. This tick can be easily identified by its color and body pattern. They are reddish-brown with an oval body, and females have an additional white spot on their back. Besides causing meat allergies, the Lone Star Tick also transmits the bacterial infection ehrlichiosis. |
