A CDC study found alpha-gal antibodies in nearly one-quarter of adult blood donor samples from five higher-risk states, with Arkansas and Missouri showing the highest positive rates.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A tick-associated allergy that can cause reactions to red meat and some other animal-derived products may be present or possible in a significant share of people in several states, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published July 2.
Researchers with the CDC and other institutions analyzed 3,000 serum samples from adult blood donors in 10 states to better assess how often people carry antibodies linked to alpha-gal syndrome, according to an Epoch Times report.
Alpha-gal syndrome, also known as AGS, is an allergy associated primarily with bites from the Lone Star tick. The condition can cause reactions after exposure to products containing alpha-gal, including red meat and dairy. Symptoms can include diarrhea, hives and severe stomach pain and usually appear two to six hours after exposure.
The CDC study found that 24% of samples from five states previously identified in earlier research as having high numbers of suspected AGS cases tested positive for alpha-gal-specific immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies.
Arkansas had the highest share of positive samples, with 31% testing positive. Missouri followed at 26%. The other states in the higher-prevalence group were Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
The five remaining states included in the analysis — Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Carolina and Washington — had lower positive rates, with 1% to 10% of samples testing positive.
Researchers noted that many people who have alpha-gal antibodies do not experience symptoms. However, additional tick bites may trigger symptoms in some people.
“People living or traveling to areas where they may be exposed to ticks should be aware of the variety of AGS symptoms, including hives, itching, stomach upset, and difficulty breathing,” Dr. Eleanor Saunders, a clinical assistant professor of hospital medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and one of the study’s authors, told The Epoch Times by email.
Saunders said people who develop symptoms should seek medical guidance. She also said health care providers should order blood tests only for patients who have symptoms consistent with AGS in order to avoid overdiagnosis.
The CDC published the study in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The agency estimated in 2023 that up to 450,000 people in the United States may have AGS.
The allergy process begins when a tick introduces alpha-gal from its saliva into a person’s bloodstream. The immune system may then identify alpha-gal as a threat and produce antibodies. Those antibodies can later contribute to allergic reactions when the person is exposed to alpha-gal from other sources, including beef, Saunders said.
Tick exposure remains common in the United States. An estimated 31 million people are bitten by ticks each year, according to the CDC.
AGS has been increasingly recognized by clinicians, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Other research has found lower alpha-gal antibody rates in smaller sample groups. Researchers in Ohio reported in April that 19 of 200 people tested positive for alpha-gal-specific IgE.
The CDC also warned in April that emergency room visits for tick bites were higher than usual and urged people to take precautions because tick bites can lead to diseases, including AGS.
Experts say the best way to lower the risk of alpha-gal syndrome is to prevent additional tick bites. Recommended steps include using insect repellent outdoors, checking for ticks after spending time outside and removing ticks immediately when found.
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