Yes, bites from lone star ticks can cause alpha-gal syndrome, which can make you allergic to a specific sugar molecule found in red meat.
Alpha-gal syndrome is unusual enough that people often assume the stories are exaggerated. But they’re not. You really can be bitten by a lone star tick and become allergic to red meat.
Lone star tick saliva contains galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, which is called alpha-gal. It’s a sugar present in most non-primate mammals. When introduced through a tick bite, it can make the immune system produce antibodies against it. Then when you eat red meat, which contains alpha-gal, it can trigger an immune response.
Symptoms usually appear two to six hours after a meal rather than within minutes. People often don’t connect their reaction to what they ate because it’s not quite that obvious. Symptoms can range from hives and itching to an upset stomach or swelling and anaphylaxis.
Beef, pork, lamb, venison, and often dairy and gelatin can all trigger it. Poultry and fish do not. Some people find sensitivity decreases over years if they avoid further tick bites, but additional bites can reinforce it.
The best thing you can do to avoid alpha-gal syndrome is to reduce your tick exposure. If you go out on the trails, stay in the center and out of low brush. Tuck your pants into socks. Consider permethrin-treated clothing, as it drops ticks on contact. You may also want to consider using a tick repellent with DEET or picaridin. And once you go back inside, remove any ticks you find promptly as that can greatly reduce your odds of tickborne illness.
If lone star ticks are a problem on your property, Mosquito Squad of The Sandhills can help. Mosquito Squad treats the brushy edges and ground cover where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
