Hattiesburg – Mississippians are not strangers for ticks, but the residents of the Magnolia state can be surprised to know that these annoying parasites can spread a food allergy that makes red meat particularly dangerous.

Allergy, known as Alpha-Call SyndromeAffects hundreds of thousands of Americans and is particularly widespread in the southeastern United States, where ticks thrive because of the warm, humid climate.

Southern Miss handles the question

The University of Southern Mississippi researcher is among the many clinics and researchers working to understand the allergy, which can lead to anaphylactic reactions to foods such as beef, pork or lamb. It can also cause reactions to products made of mammals, including gelatin and some drugs, including worm antifomas.

Dr. Shahid KarimA southern missbiology professor, studies ticks and the many diseases that the small arachnids can be spread to their hosts.

He started studying Alpha-Gal-Syndrome in 2015 after hearing about it from a colleague while he was in one of the university’s leisure facilities.

“I talked to Dr. (Rick) Green … we were in the dressing room, ”Karim said.

A ‘thunderstorm’

Green, a now retired recreation therapy professor, shared that he suffered from the allergy, which usually starts with the part of the Lone Star fastening. This type of tick, named because of its star -shaped spots, is domestic for the eastern United States as well as Mexico.

“(Allergy) came like a thunder,” Green said. “I’ve never had any allergies. And I remember, about ten years ago … my last day in the teaching session one in the summer … so I run home and take two cheese burgers from McDonald’s. And, the next thing I noticed, my palms itching … and then the whole head began to itch. “

After a trip to an urgent care clinic and three doses of antihistamine Benadryl, Green said he felt better, but the allergy – which was then mysterious to both Green and his doctor – would soon resume.

“I still had no idea (about the cause of the allergy),” he said. “I was up in Canada and visited friends and ate lambs. (The same thing happened. “

Green, a member of a Birmingham-based orienteering club, told other club members about his allergic reactions. Shortly thereafter, a club member called him with some exciting information.

“A woman from the club called me, and she said,” I read something about allergies, and it may be that you are allergic to red meat … and it may very well be caused by a tick, “I said.” Made a time with the doctor and said to him: “I think I’m allergic to beef as a result of a tick.” He goes, “I’ve never heard of it.” None of the (local) doctors had ever heard of it. The only person I knew who had ever heard if it was (Karim). “

Green said he was happy to have answers and could adapt his diet to avoid trigger food.

“For (several) years I was a pretty strict vegetarian, and so I knew how to cook good vegetarian meals,” he said. “I really didn’t miss the meat that much. And then everything disappeared. (I had it) for about ten years. “

The retired professor said that the intensity of his Alfa-Gal-Syndom symptom faded over time. He can now eat cheese burgers – one of his favorite foods – and that he is “not afraid to eat meat.”

Green said he was happy to know Karim and share his experiences with his biological colleague.

“I think he was as interested in me as I was in him … because he had a living subject that didn’t mind answering questions about (Alpha-Gal-Syndrome),” he said.

A growing problem

After his first conversation with Green, Karim returned to his lab with a new research interest, and he successfully applied for university funds and federal contributions to study the allergy.

He discovered that in 2012, there were only 12 documented cases of alpha-gal syndrome throughout the country.

“So, 2012, 12 cases, and then (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) put together a study,” Karim said. “They found 34,000 cases in 2016 and 2023 increase 450,000 cases and (these figures) every day.”

The reasons behind the enormous increase in alpha-gal syndround are under scientific review, but a possible explanation can be found in the movement of ticks that spread the allergy, he said.

“Historically, the Lone Star fastening was kind of in a territory – southeastern United States – and now you can find it in Canada, in New York, in colder places,” Karim said. “It has increased its geographical range, so there are many cases from, like New York City.”

Biology professor said that factors behind the interval change included “longer summers” and overall climate change.

“(The fasteners) move to new territories and they survive,” he said.

The immune system responds

Alpha-Gal is a complex sugar found in the tissues of non-pruned mammals, including cows, pigs and sheep. It is not naturally present in humans, which is why the immune system can recognize it as foreign and react to it, Karim said.

“(Alpha-Gal) was once in our bodies, but as for 20, 30 million years ago, we (it) disabled,” he said.

Lone Star Tick Saliva contains Alfa-Gal, and fasteners transfer it to humans, he added.

“Red meat already has a lot of alpha-gal in it, when (alpha-kid syndrome) eats it, they melt it after 3-6 hours, and the alpha-gal goes and triggers this cascade of reactions,” Karim said.

The time delay is probably due to the fact that it takes longer for the alpha-gal molecules to melt, according to one Report from Mayo Clinic.

The report adds that symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome may include:

• Beehouses and itching.
• Swelling.
• Hissing breathing or shortness of breath.
• Abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Life -threatening anaphylaxis, in severe cases.

Clinic staff advise people with such symptoms to see their doctor or allergy in primary care. They also recommend receiving emergency medical treatment in a severe allergic reaction, which can cause problems with breathing or swallowing, a weak heart rate, dizziness and redness and heat throughout the body.

Avoid triggers

There are currently no treatments for Alpha-Gal-Syndrome, Karim said. Monitoring the food intake is instead the key, he noted.

“Don’t eat beef, avoid it and other red meat,” he said. “Slowly the symptoms will disappear.”

He said that avoiding red meat is a difficult task, especially since some foods containing it may not be properly marked or correct. In addition, vapors from red meat – such as smoke from cooking a steak in a restaurant kitchen – can be enough to start a reaction with an affected person.

Jefferson van Drew, an American representative from New Jersey, introduced one invoice In August 2024 that would change Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act To add alpha-gal to the definition of “Major Food Allergen.” If assumed, Alpha-Gal Allergen Inclusion Act would require packaged foods with Alpha-Gal clearly labeled.

Supporters of the bill, including Alpha-Gal Foundation and Alpha-Gal Alliance Action Fundsays the legislation “will help the growing Alfa-Gal community to easily identify uncertain foods.”

Prevention is of utmost importance

Karim said, in order to avoid acquiring the allergy, people should be careful during outdoor activities.

“Use rejection to make sure that ticks will not bite,” he said.

The Mayo Clinic report says that insecticides with a 20% or higher concentration of the ingredient Deet is helpful to avoid fastening pieces. Clinic personnel also recommend that you cover all body parts when you are in tree -west or grassy areas and tick -resistant farms by cleaning brush and leaves.

“Check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks” after spending time in wooded or grassy areas is another recommendation from the clinic.

If a tick is found, it is important to remove it “with tweezers as soon as possible”, according to the clinic’s report: “Gently grip the fortress near the head or mouth. Do not press or crush the tick. Pull it off with a gently, firm grip. When You have removed the entire tick, throw it out.

An optimistic view

Karim said his laboratory is hard to answer many of the unknowns surrounding the allergy.

“There is a lot we don’t know,” he said, pointing out many unanswered questions about Alpha-Gal-Syndrome.

For example, the professor and his colleagues are uncertain about environmental or genetic predispositions for the allergy. They also do not know the biological and functional importance of alpha-gal to ticks.

Karim said he remains optimistic that researchers will break the mysteries behind the allergy and solve the suffering involved in the Alpha-Gal syndrome.

“The most important thing is … We want to develop some immunotherapy drugs so that the people can be cured,” he said.

This Article first appeared on Roy Howard Community Journalism Center And published here under a Creative Commons license.