Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers
Abstract Background Alpha-gal is an oligosaccharide implicated in delayed anaphylaxis following red meat consumption. Exposure to tick bites has been correlated with development of an allergic response to alpha-gal. However, evidence prospectively linking exposure to a single tick species and an imm...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04343-4 |
| _version_ | 1819044454205489152 |
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| author | Cedar L. Mitchell Feng-Chang Lin Meagan Vaughn Charles S. Apperson Steven R. Meshnick Scott P. Commins |
| author_facet | Cedar L. Mitchell Feng-Chang Lin Meagan Vaughn Charles S. Apperson Steven R. Meshnick Scott P. Commins |
| author_sort | Cedar L. Mitchell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Alpha-gal is an oligosaccharide implicated in delayed anaphylaxis following red meat consumption. Exposure to tick bites has been correlated with development of an allergic response to alpha-gal. However, evidence prospectively linking exposure to a single tick species and an immune response to alpha-gal is lacking. Methods We used serum samples from a prior study cohort of outdoor workers in North Carolina, USA, with high exposure to the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, to prospectively evaluate the relationship between tick bites and anti-alpha-gal IgE antibodies. Results Individuals who reported exposure to one or more tick bites were significantly more likely to have a positive change in anti-alpha-gal IgE compared to individuals with no reported tick bites. This relationship was not dependent on time. A trend toward increasing number of tick bites and increased anti-alpha-gal IgE levels was observed but not statistically significant. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to prospectively link documented exposure to A. americanum bites and increased sensitization to alpha-gal in a cohort of outdoor workers. Our results support the role of A. americanum as likely agents for eliciting an allergic response to red meat, and highlight the importance of preventing tick bites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:12:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a08b49c80d544b01b982a35db732f17f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:12:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-a08b49c80d544b01b982a35db732f17f2022-12-21T19:07:39ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052020-09-011311410.1186/s13071-020-04343-4Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workersCedar L. Mitchell0Feng-Chang Lin1Meagan Vaughn2Charles S. Apperson3Steven R. Meshnick4Scott P. Commins5Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North CarolinaDepartment of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North CarolinaDepartment of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North CarolinaDepartment of Medicine, Thurston Research Center, Division of Allergy, Immunology and RheumatologyAbstract Background Alpha-gal is an oligosaccharide implicated in delayed anaphylaxis following red meat consumption. Exposure to tick bites has been correlated with development of an allergic response to alpha-gal. However, evidence prospectively linking exposure to a single tick species and an immune response to alpha-gal is lacking. Methods We used serum samples from a prior study cohort of outdoor workers in North Carolina, USA, with high exposure to the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, to prospectively evaluate the relationship between tick bites and anti-alpha-gal IgE antibodies. Results Individuals who reported exposure to one or more tick bites were significantly more likely to have a positive change in anti-alpha-gal IgE compared to individuals with no reported tick bites. This relationship was not dependent on time. A trend toward increasing number of tick bites and increased anti-alpha-gal IgE levels was observed but not statistically significant. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to prospectively link documented exposure to A. americanum bites and increased sensitization to alpha-gal in a cohort of outdoor workers. Our results support the role of A. americanum as likely agents for eliciting an allergic response to red meat, and highlight the importance of preventing tick bites.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04343-4Alpha-galAmblyomma americanumRed meat allergy |
| spellingShingle | Cedar L. Mitchell Feng-Chang Lin Meagan Vaughn Charles S. Apperson Steven R. Meshnick Scott P. Commins Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers Parasites & Vectors Alpha-gal Amblyomma americanum Red meat allergy |
| title | Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| title_full | Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| title_fullStr | Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| title_short | Association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha-gal sensitization: evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| title_sort | association between lone star tick bites and increased alpha gal sensitization evidence from a prospective cohort of outdoor workers |
| topic | Alpha-gal Amblyomma americanum Red meat allergy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-020-04343-4 |
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