ALPHA GAL SYNDROME
Key Allergens
This carbohydrate causes an immune reaction to make IgE antibodies. This is an unusual allergic syndrome as it is caused by a carbohydrate and not an allergenic protein.
The ticks most commonly causing this syndrome are found in the USA and Australia, but cases have also been found in Europe, South Africa and Japan.
Alpha-gal Syndrome most frequently causes delayed IgE allergic reactions to the consumption of red meats, this is unlike the classic IgE reactions which are immediate on ingestion.
A recent 2024 study looked at the link between milk consumption and alpha gal syndrome, it found that whole milk was able to illicit allergic reactions in some people.
Cross Reactivity
Alpha-gal Syndrome has also been known to cause immediate anaphylactic reactions to tick bites and reactions to the drug cetuximab (which is a targeted cancer drug, used most often in bowel cancer treatment).
There have also been case studies of people who have suffered allergic reactions due to Alpha-gal Syndrome from xenotransplantation. This is where cells or tissue from an animal is used to repair cell or tissue damage in a human. Cells most commonly used are from pigs.
Resources
Websites
Allergen Encyclopedia - Alpha Gal
DermNet NZ - Tick bite-induced red meat allergy
Anaphylaxis Campaign - Tick bites and allergic reactions to red meat
Science Direct - Galactose-alpha-1-3-galactose
Articles and Journals
Milk Fat Globule Proteins Are Relevant Bovine Milk Allergens in Patients with α-Gal Syndrome
What is New in Alpha-Gal Syndrome? 2023
Tick Bites and Red Meat Allergy, 2023
α-Gal Syndrome: Busting Paradigms in Food Allergy, 2023
Sheep cheese allergy in Alpha-gal Syndrome, 2023
A Case Report on Alpha-gal Syndrome, 2023
The Meat of the Matter: Understanding and Managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome, 2022
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: An Emerging Food Allergy Related to Tick Bites, 2022
Course of IgE to α-Gal in a Swedish population of α-Gal syndrome patients, 2021
Tick bite induced α-gal syndrome highlights anticancer effect of allergy, 2021
Allergic response to medical products in patients with alpha-gal syndrome, 2021
Tick salivary gland extract induces alpha-gal syndrome in alpha-gal deficient mice, 2021
Tick exposures and alpha-gal syndrome: A systematic review of the evidence, 2021
The alpha-Gal syndrome: new insights into the tick-host conflict and cooperation, 2019
Ingestion of mammalian meat and alpha-gal allergy: Clinical relevance in primary care, 2019
Alpha-Gal detectors in xenotransplantation research: a word of caution, 2012