Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017–December 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick biteassociated allergic condition characterized by potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity to an oligosaccharide found in most mammalian meat and products derived from it; however, in the absence of national surveillance, the geographic distribution and number of cases are largely unknown. […] The number of suspected AGS cases in the United States has increased substantially since 2010, and states with established populations of lone star ticks are most affected, although suspected AGS cases were also identified in areas outside of this ticks range. […] These data highlight the evolving emergence of AGS and can be used to help state and local health agencies initiate surveillance and target public health outreach and health care provider education to high-risk localities.

• #2 Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) 2022 Case Definition | CDC

  https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/alpha-gal-syndrome-ags-2022/

  Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a hypersensitivity reaction to galactose–1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), found in non-primate mammalian meat and certain derivative products. AGS has been reported worldwide; in the United States, it is most closely associated with lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) bites. Research has suggested that other tick species, including Ixodes spp., may also be associated with AGS development. Reports of AGS in the scientific literature have been increasing over the last decade, but the true burden of cases is unknown. Additionally, much of the country may be at risk given the expanding geographic range of lone star and other ticks. Responding to the increased diagnosis of cases and public interest, multiple states have expressed a desire to quantify the burden of AGS. The standardization of case definition and reporting criteria is necessary in order to characterize disease burden, compare interstate disease incidence, and monitor trends in patient demographics, morbidity, mortality, and geographic distribution of risk.

• #3 Alpha-gal syndrome – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_syndrome

  Alpha-gal allergy has been reported in 17 countries on all six continents where humans are bitten by ticks, particularly the United States and Australia. […] Alpha-gal allergies are the first known food allergies that present the possibility of delayed anaphylaxis. […] In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the genetic modification of pigs so they do not produce alpha-gal sugars. […] New American guidelines published in 2023 recommended physicians to suspect alpha-gal syndrome in cases with abdominal pain and GI symptoms, but without traditional allergy symptoms like hives.

• #4 Alpha-gal syndrome in general practice: red meat food allergy caused by UK ticks | British Journal of General Practice

  https://bjgp.org/content/75/753/186

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a red meat food allergy caused by tick bites that is new to the UK. It was first described in Australia and the US in 2009 and the UK in 2019, caused by foreign ticks in travellers returning to the UK. These Scottish case reports confirm that the UK tick, Ixodes ricinus, is causing AGS red meat allergy in UK residents. […] AGS is an allergic process, in contrast to Lyme disease. […] The patient history of tick exposure and several bites builds up an immune response to tick saliva. […] Prevention includes prompt tick removal without squeezing the tick, which prevents the injection of tick saliva antigen into genetically susceptible individuals.

• #5 Alpha-gal syndrome – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_syndrome

  Alpha-gal allergy has been reported in 17 countries on all six continents where humans are bitten by ticks, particularly the United States and Australia. […] Alpha-gal allergies are the first known food allergies that present the possibility of delayed anaphylaxis. […] In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the genetic modification of pigs so they do not produce alpha-gal sugars. […] New American guidelines published in 2023 recommended physicians to suspect alpha-gal syndrome in cases with abdominal pain and GI symptoms, but without traditional allergy symptoms like hives.

• #6 The Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Unique Tick-Borne Illness on the Rise – Clinical Advisor

  https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/features/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-illness/

  Alpha-gal syndrome is a rare tick-borne illness that causes a food allergy to red meat in people who are exposed. […] Each year approximately 13,000 to 18,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with AGS; this is likely a low estimate due to widespread lack of recognition and diagnostic testing for AGS. […] Alpha-gal syndrome has been reported worldwide, including in the US, Europe, Japan, and South Africa. […] In the US, tick bites from Amblyomma americanum (common name: lone star tick) are believed to be the primary cause of alpha-gal syndrome. […] Currently AGS is the most prominent cause of new-onset food allergy in adults in the Southeastern US. […] Risk factors for developing IgE antibodies to alpha-gal are related to the probability of individual tick bite exposure in certain environmental conditions, including participation in outdoor activities (eg, hunting or hiking), living in rural areas, pet ownership, and certain occupations that require exposure to forested areas.

• #7 Understanding and Managing Alpha-gal Allergy | ITT

  https://www.dovepress.com/the-meat-of-the-matter-understanding-and-managing-alpha-gal-syndrome-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-ITT

  Alpha-gal syndrome cases arising after hard-bodied tick bites have been reported on every continent except Antarctica. […] The prevalence of alpha-gal sensitization varies depending on the region of the world, population studied, and the cut-off value for a positive alpha-gal IgE level. […] In the southeastern United States, initial sensitization rates ranged from 15% to 25% based on cohorts of approximately 50250 patients. […] Recently, a study incorporating 122,068 serum samples from 100,000 unique patients in the United States demonstrated an alpha-gal IgE sensitization rate of 32.4%. […] Alpha-gal syndrome is most frequently reported in Australia and the southeastern United States. […] In fact, within the southeastern US, alpha-gal syndrome is a leading cause of anaphylaxis among adults and adolescents. […] A Spanish study demonstrated that the frequency of alpha-gal IgE in patients presenting with urticaria or anaphylaxis was 15%, suggesting that alpha-gal syndrome should be seriously considered in patients who present with unexplained hives, swelling, or spontaneous allergic reactions.

• #8 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017–December 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm

  During 20102018, more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited. […] The highest numbers of suspected AGS cases were identified in counties within New York (Suffolk [3,746]) and Virginia (Bedford [1,511]); 4% of all suspected cases nationwide resided in Suffolk County, New York. […] The geographic distribution of AGS is very similar to that of ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii, disease agents also known to be transmitted by the lone star tick. […] The results of the current study can aid in initiating national surveillance efforts for this emerging allergic condition and for geographically targeting high-risk populations for public health outreach and HCP education. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including community education targeting tick bite prevention to reduce the risk for acquiring AGS, HCP education to improve timely diagnosis and management, and improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #9 Health: Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention Division: Alpha-gal Syndrome

  https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/vector-borne-diseases/alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. […] AGS is associated with tick bites. Evidence suggests that AGS is primarily associated with the bite of a lone star tick in the United States, but other kinds of ticks have not been ruled out. Other tick species have been connected with the development of AGS in other countries. […] A CDC report showed that between 2010 and 2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified. However, this number might be underestimated due to it not being a nationally notifiable disease. Alpha-gal syndrome is not a state-reportable condition in Indiana.

• #10

  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alpha-gal-red-meat-allergy-lone-star-tick-bites-cdc/

  Combined with the survey findings, as well as previous testing results collected through 2018, the CDC estimates that up to 450,000 people in the U.S. may have been affected by alpha-gal syndrome since 2010. […] „If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years,” the authors wrote. […] „The lack of [health care provider] knowledge of [alpha-gal syndrome] is likely to lead to under testing, further hampering knowledge of the national prevalence,” that study’s authors wrote of their findings. […] „Alpha-gal syndrome is an important emerging public health problem, with potentially severe health impacts that can last a lifetime for some patients,” the CDC’s Dr. Ann Carpenter, a lead author of one of the papers, said in a release.

• #11 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Article | The United States Army

  https://www.army.mil/article/276333/military_health_experts_warn_about_potentially_life_threatening_meat_allergy_from_tick_bite

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 500,000 people in the U.S. have a serious allergic condition called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, also known as the red-meat allergy or tick-bite meat allergy. […] Data show that cases of AGS are rising in the U.S. […] According to CDC surveillance, AGS cases in the U.S. steadily increased from 2019 to 2022. […] The CDC recognized the emerging significance of AGS by establishing a unique AGS medical code, Z91.014, in January 2022. […] However, CDC reported in a July 2023 Health Advisory that many health care providers still had not heard of AGS or would not recognize if a patients symptoms were related to AGS. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion found the number of AGS diagnoses is growing in the military. Their analysis found 1,080 individuals with AGS diagnosis, and case numbers were increasing in same-month comparisons between years. […] Cases were also diagnosed in the Northeast and Central U.S., which corresponded with CDCs AGS surveillance findings. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion recognize that as AGS becomes more recognized by doctors, the number of cases diagnosed may continue to increase.

• #12 Research and epidemiology – Alpha-gal Alliance ACTION FUND

  https://alphagalaction.org/research-and-epidemiology/

  The prevalence of AGS cases is unknown, and it remains a challenge for widespread integration of AGS into healthcare training and awareness. […] Considerations to increase awareness of AGS could include making the diagnosis reportable, which could be accomplished in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. […] The National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases (VBD) in People, which includes AGS as a vector-borne condition, has identified a need to: Expand capacity for the surveillance of vector-borne conditions. […] The CDC estimates that up to 450,000 Americans are affected by alpha-gal syndrome, many of whom are undiagnosed. […] Determining the costs associated with alpha-gal syndrome is needed for public health decision-making.

• #13 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases – United States, January 2017-December 2022 – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37498787/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick bite-associated allergic condition characterized by a potentially life-threatening immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), an oligosaccharide found in most nonprimate mammalian meat and products derived from these mammals. […] During 2010-2018, more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited. […] This study examined alpha-gal-specific IgE (sIgE) antibody testing results submitted to the commercial laboratory responsible for nearly all testing in the United States before 2022 to assess the geographic distribution and magnitude of this emerging condition. […] Overall, 90,018 (30.5%) persons received a positive test result in the study period, and the number of persons with positive test results increased from 13,371 in 2017 to 18,885 in 2021.

• #14 CDC alerts clinicians to signs of alpha-gal syndrome | MDedge

  https://mdedge.com/gihepnews/article/264751/ibd-intestinal-disorders/cdc-alerts-clinicians-signs-alpha-gal-syndrome

  According to the report, the suspected AGS cases were concentrated in areas where the lone star tick is known to be found, particularly throughout Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Suffolk County, N.Y. […] The report also notes that, “during 2017-2021, there was an annual increase in positive test results for AGS in the United States. More than 90,000 suspected AGS cases were identified during the study period, and the number of new suspected cases increased by approximately 15,000 each year during the study.”

• #15 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases – United States, January 2017-December 2022 – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37498787/

  Among 233,521 persons for whom geographic data were available, suspected cases predominantly occurred in counties within the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic U.S. Census Bureau regions. […] These data highlight the evolving emergence of AGS and can be used to help state and local health agencies initiate surveillance and target public health outreach and health care provider education to high-risk localities.

• #16 CDC: Cases of alpha-gal syndrome from tick bites are rising

  https://www.statnews.com/2023/07/27/alpha-gal-syndrome-lone-star-tick-bite-red-meat-allergy/

  Symptoms include hives, nausea and vomiting, upset stomach and diarrhea, and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. […] Yet, despite all these challenges, reported cases of AGS are still on the rise. […] Salzers report recorded over 90,000 suspected AGS cases from 2017 to 2022; nearly three times the 34,000 suspected cases documented between 2010 and 2018. […] In the U.S., the main tick species responsible for AGS transmission is the lone star tick. […] According to Salzer, other lone star tick diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, have been increasing as well, suggesting lone star tick numbers could be increasing in the U.S. […] In their report, Salzer and colleagues localized suspected AGS cases to mostly the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic U.S., roughly overlapping with the known habitat of the lone star tick.

• #17 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017–December 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm

  During 20102018, more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited. […] The highest numbers of suspected AGS cases were identified in counties within New York (Suffolk [3,746]) and Virginia (Bedford [1,511]); 4% of all suspected cases nationwide resided in Suffolk County, New York. […] The geographic distribution of AGS is very similar to that of ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii, disease agents also known to be transmitted by the lone star tick. […] The results of the current study can aid in initiating national surveillance efforts for this emerging allergic condition and for geographically targeting high-risk populations for public health outreach and HCP education. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including community education targeting tick bite prevention to reduce the risk for acquiring AGS, HCP education to improve timely diagnosis and management, and improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #18 Alpha-gal Syndrome Support | TBC United | Medical Guidance & Training

  https://www.tbcunited.org/tick-borne-diseases/alphagal-syndrome/

  Blacklegged Ticks in the U.S. Confirmed in New CDC Cases of Alpha-gal Syndrome the Potential Missing Link for Lyme Disease Patients? […] Many states in the U.S. are known to have Alpha-gal Syndrome hotspots including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Long Island New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. However, cases are increasing throughout the eastern United States. […] Data from the United States and other countries show a strong association between Alpha-gal Syndrome and tick bites. Emerging research in the U.S. now shows that the Lone Star tick can cause the alpha-gal sensitivity in mice (see Resources below). […] In the U.S., the Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is most commonly associated with Alpha-gal Syndrome (alpha-gal allergy). […] Doctors should diagnose Alpha-gal Syndrome using a combination of your personal history (such as exposure to ticks and symptoms) and a blood test that looks for IgE antibodies to alpha-gal (see below). […] Alpha-gal Syndrome should be managed under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

• #19 Illinois General Assembly – Full Text of HB1754HB1754eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  https://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=10400HB1754eng&GA=104&SessionId=114&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=159116&DocNum=1754&GAID=18&SpecSess=&Session=&print=true

  alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified AGS as a growing threat to clinical and public health and has identified state-level surveillance of AGS as a critical need. […] The CDC has identified Illinois as a state with one of the highest AGS prevalence rates in the nation.

• #20 Journal of Medical Internet Research – Emerging Trends in Information-Seeking Behavior for Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Infodemiology Study Using Time Series and Content Analysis

  https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e49928

  Geographic analysis showed strong significant correlations between alpha-gal and lone star tick searches especially in recent years (=0.80; P<.001), with primary overlap and highest search rates found in the southeastern region of the United States. [...] The connection between alpha-gal allergy and lone star ticks was initially described in 2011 and has since been supported by subsequent studies. [...] Recent evidence from a case-control study further strengthens this association, revealing significantly higher odds of tick exposures among individuals with alpha-gal syndrome compared to controls. [...] Recognition and general awareness of alpha-gal allergy are growing, but health care providers' knowledge of the connection between lone star ticks and alpha-gal allergy may be lagging. [...] A recent survey conducted among clinicians in Illinois revealed a lack of awareness regarding the link between lone star tick bites and alpha-gal allergy, as well as limited familiarity with diagnostic testing for the condition.

• #21 The Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Unique Tick-Borne Illness on the Rise – Clinical Advisor

  https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/features/alpha-gal-syndrome-tick-borne-illness/

  Alpha-gal syndrome is a rare tick-borne illness that causes a food allergy to red meat in people who are exposed. […] Each year approximately 13,000 to 18,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with AGS; this is likely a low estimate due to widespread lack of recognition and diagnostic testing for AGS. […] Alpha-gal syndrome has been reported worldwide, including in the US, Europe, Japan, and South Africa. […] In the US, tick bites from Amblyomma americanum (common name: lone star tick) are believed to be the primary cause of alpha-gal syndrome. […] Currently AGS is the most prominent cause of new-onset food allergy in adults in the Southeastern US. […] Risk factors for developing IgE antibodies to alpha-gal are related to the probability of individual tick bite exposure in certain environmental conditions, including participation in outdoor activities (eg, hunting or hiking), living in rural areas, pet ownership, and certain occupations that require exposure to forested areas.

• #22 Diagnosis and treatment of the alpha-Gal syndrome | JAA

  https://www.dovepress.com/current-and-future-strategies-for-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-the-a-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA

  The -Gal syndrome (AGS) is a pathognomonic immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated delayed anaphylaxis in foods containing the oligosaccharide galactose–1,3-galactose (-Gal) such as mammalian meat or dairy products. […] Due to inapparent presentation, delayed reactions and a wide variety of patients clinical history, the AGS diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. […] AGS is currently considered an emergent life-threatening allergy in tick endemic areas worldwide. […] Risk factors for developing sIgE to -Gal are related to the probability of individual tick bite-exposure in certain environmental conditions, including practice of outdoor activities (eg, hunting or hiking), living in rural areas, pet-ownership, and certain jobs such as forest service employees. […] The AGS is an allergic disorder that challenges clinical diagnosis due to inapparent presentation and delayed reactions.

• #23

  https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/latest-research-summaries/the-journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology-in/2023/alpha-gal

  The alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergy to red meat and mammalian products that is caused by IgE antibodies to a specific carbohydrate called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). […] In the United States, IgE antibodies specific for alpha-gal often develop because of tick bites from Amblyomma americanum (the lone star tick). […] However, there has been limited nationwide investigation of AGS epidemiology. […] Overall, six percent of the presenting military personnel, who were largely young adults and majority male, were positive for IgE to alpha-gal in blood drawn at the time of their intake. […] Rates of alpha-gal sensitization varied greatly based on the state and region that was their home prior to joining the service. […] It was also found that having a home of record in a more rural area, and a home of record in the South, were strong risk factors for alpha-gal sensitization.

• #24

  https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/latest-research-summaries/the-journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology-in/2023/alpha-gal

  Alpha-gal sensitization prevalence correlated even more strongly with the distribution of Ehrlichiosis infections in the US, providing supporting evidence that the lone star tick is likely the major cause of alpha-gal sensitization in the US. […] This first of its kind systematic survey shows significant regional variability in alpha-gal IgE rates across the US, with very high rates most notable in an area including parts of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

• #25 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Health.mil

  https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2024/05/15/news471323

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 500,000 people in the U.S. have a serious allergic condition called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, also known as the red-meat allergy or tick-bite meat allergy. […] Data show that cases of AGS are rising in the U.S. […] According to CDC surveillance, AGS cases in the U.S. steadily increased from 2019 to 2022. Highest numbers were in Suffolk County, New York, followed by counties in Virginia and Kentucky, all lone star tick habitats. […] The CDC recognized the emerging significance of AGS by establishing a unique AGS medical code, Z91.014, in January 2022. However, CDC reported in a July 2023 Health Advisory that many healthcare providers still had not heard of AGS or would not recognize if a patients symptoms were related to AGS.

• #26 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Health.mil

  https://health.mil/News/Dvids-Articles/2024/05/15/news471323

  Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion found the number of AGS diagnoses is growing in the military. Their analysis found 1,080 individuals with AGS diagnosis, and case numbers were increasing in same-month comparisons between years. […] Cases were also diagnosed in the Northeast and Central U.S., which corresponded with CDCs AGS surveillance findings.

• #27 Alpha-gal syndrome: Recognizing and managing a tick-bite–related meat allergy | Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

  https://www.ccjm.org/content/92/5/311

  Because cases continue to increase and symptoms overlap with other gastrointestinal illnesses and allergies, gastroenterologists and primary care clinicians must be aware of alpha-gal syndrome for timely diagnosis and intervention. […] In the United States, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), which primarily parasitizes deer and is responsible for 90% of all tick bites in the southern United States, has been identified as the vector responsible for alpha-gal syndrome. […] The current glycolipid hypothesis describes the mechanism for the delay in response to ingestion of meat products containing alpha-gal and subsequent development of symptoms. […] Notably, most sensitized individuals do not experience any symptoms after ingesting mammalian meat. […] In regions where ticks are prevalent, 15% to 35% of the population may be sensitized to alpha-gal, but clinical alpha-gal syndrome occurs in only 1% to 8%.

• #28 Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) 2022 Case Definition | CDC

  https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/alpha-gal-syndrome-ags-2022/

  Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a hypersensitivity reaction to galactose–1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), found in non-primate mammalian meat and certain derivative products. AGS has been reported worldwide; in the United States, it is most closely associated with lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) bites. Research has suggested that other tick species, including Ixodes spp., may also be associated with AGS development. Reports of AGS in the scientific literature have been increasing over the last decade, but the true burden of cases is unknown. Additionally, much of the country may be at risk given the expanding geographic range of lone star and other ticks. Responding to the increased diagnosis of cases and public interest, multiple states have expressed a desire to quantify the burden of AGS. The standardization of case definition and reporting criteria is necessary in order to characterize disease burden, compare interstate disease incidence, and monitor trends in patient demographics, morbidity, mortality, and geographic distribution of risk.

• #29 Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-red-meat-allergy-caused-by-tick-bites/

  Alpha-gal syndrome is rare. But as climate change leads to warmer winters and longer, hotter summers, tick populations are growing and spreading to new areas, increasing the threat of all tick-borne illnesses, including alpha-gal. […] Alpha-gal syndrome is more common in areas where lone star ticks are prevalent, such as the southeastern United States and parts of the mid-Atlantic. But because of the increasing prevalence of AGS beyond these areas, experts suspect that the syndrome could be caused by bites from other types of ticks, or by chiggers, a close relative of the tick. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported two cases of alpha-gal not caused by the lone star tick: one linked to a western black-legged tick, the second linked to a black-legged tick. […] Awareness of alpha-gal syndrome has grown in the past decade, but it can still be hard to diagnose, and so many cases might be missed. Its estimated that between 96,000 and 450,000 people in the United States have been affected by AGS since 2010.

• #30 Research ties bites from 2 more types of ticks to red meat allergy | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/tick-borne-disease/research-ties-bites-2-more-types-ticks-red-meat-allergy

  Two Emerging Infectious Diseases studies link bites from black-legged (deer) and western black-legged ticks to potentially life-threatening alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), or red meat allergy. […] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that AGS affects up to 450,000 Americans. […] US health and public health professionals should be aware of AGS outside the established lone star tick range. […] After increasing AGS surveillance, the Maine CDC received positive alpha-galspecific IgE laboratory reports on 57 Maine residents in 12 counties from November 2014 to October 2023. […] The Maine CDC confirmed AGS in 23 of the 57 case-patients after interviewing healthcare providers or patients and reviewing medical records. […] „Additional work will be needed to determine a possible link between I. pacificus or other Ixodes spp. ticks and AGS in the United States,” they concluded. „Public health practitioners across the United States should continue efforts focused on tick bite prevention, healthcare provider education, and improved tick and tickborne disease surveillance.”

• #31 Research ties bites from 2 more types of ticks to red meat allergy | CIDRAP

  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/tick-borne-disease/research-ties-bites-2-more-types-ticks-red-meat-allergy

  Two Emerging Infectious Diseases studies link bites from black-legged (deer) and western black-legged ticks to potentially life-threatening alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), or red meat allergy. […] The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that AGS affects up to 450,000 Americans. […] US health and public health professionals should be aware of AGS outside the established lone star tick range. […] After increasing AGS surveillance, the Maine CDC received positive alpha-galspecific IgE laboratory reports on 57 Maine residents in 12 counties from November 2014 to October 2023. […] The Maine CDC confirmed AGS in 23 of the 57 case-patients after interviewing healthcare providers or patients and reviewing medical records. […] „Additional work will be needed to determine a possible link between I. pacificus or other Ixodes spp. ticks and AGS in the United States,” they concluded. „Public health practitioners across the United States should continue efforts focused on tick bite prevention, healthcare provider education, and improved tick and tickborne disease surveillance.”

• #32 Climate Change, Vector Range, and Alpha-Gal in Psychiatric Practice

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/climate-change-vector-range-and-alpha-gal-in-psychiatric-practice

  The prevalence of AGS is greatest in the United States, where the link between tick bites and AGS was initially identified by an Australian group in 2009. […] Recent data showed 18,885 positive tests in the United States in 2021, rising from 13,371 in 2017 with geographic preference for the Midwest, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic regions, which not so coincidentally mirrors the distribution of the lone star tick. […] Without established surveillance for AGS, its exact prevalence is largely unknown. […] Changing climates alter regions suitable for ticks, and the range of AGS will likely follow such migrations. […] The northward expansion of lone star ticks and AGS is amplified by the acceleration of the tick life cycle from climate impacts. […] A survey from the same Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) weekly morbidity and mortality report highlights the lack of provider knowledge on AGS and its underdiagnosis.

• #33 Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

  https://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-red-meat-allergy-caused-by-tick-bites/

  Alpha-gal syndrome is rare. But as climate change leads to warmer winters and longer, hotter summers, tick populations are growing and spreading to new areas, increasing the threat of all tick-borne illnesses, including alpha-gal. […] Alpha-gal syndrome is more common in areas where lone star ticks are prevalent, such as the southeastern United States and parts of the mid-Atlantic. But because of the increasing prevalence of AGS beyond these areas, experts suspect that the syndrome could be caused by bites from other types of ticks, or by chiggers, a close relative of the tick. […] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported two cases of alpha-gal not caused by the lone star tick: one linked to a western black-legged tick, the second linked to a black-legged tick. […] Awareness of alpha-gal syndrome has grown in the past decade, but it can still be hard to diagnose, and so many cases might be missed. Its estimated that between 96,000 and 450,000 people in the United States have been affected by AGS since 2010.

• #34 CDC: Cases of alpha-gal syndrome from tick bites are rising

  https://www.statnews.com/2023/07/27/alpha-gal-syndrome-lone-star-tick-bite-red-meat-allergy/

  Symptoms include hives, nausea and vomiting, upset stomach and diarrhea, and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. […] Yet, despite all these challenges, reported cases of AGS are still on the rise. […] Salzers report recorded over 90,000 suspected AGS cases from 2017 to 2022; nearly three times the 34,000 suspected cases documented between 2010 and 2018. […] In the U.S., the main tick species responsible for AGS transmission is the lone star tick. […] According to Salzer, other lone star tick diseases, such as ehrlichiosis, have been increasing as well, suggesting lone star tick numbers could be increasing in the U.S. […] In their report, Salzer and colleagues localized suspected AGS cases to mostly the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic U.S., roughly overlapping with the known habitat of the lone star tick.

• #35 Guide to different tick species and the diseases they carry

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/in-depth/tick-species/art-20546861

  Bites from the Lone Star tick can sometimes lead to alpha-gal syndrome, which is associated with a meat allergy. As the tick feeds, it transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the body. In some people, this molecule triggers a reaction from the body’s immune system. It causes an allergic reaction to certain meats, such as beef, pork or lamb, but not poultry or fish. It also may cause reactions to other foods, such as dairy products or gelatins, that come from mammals. […] In the United States, the number of people diagnosed with tick-borne diseases has increased. In the years between 2004 and 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that tick-borne diseases rose from about 22,500 cases to about 50,800 cases. […] Tickborne disease surveillance data summary. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/data-summary/index.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2023.

• #36 Alpha-gal syndrome – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_syndrome

  Alpha-gal allergy has been reported in 17 countries on all six continents where humans are bitten by ticks, particularly the United States and Australia. […] Alpha-gal allergies are the first known food allergies that present the possibility of delayed anaphylaxis. […] In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the genetic modification of pigs so they do not produce alpha-gal sugars. […] New American guidelines published in 2023 recommended physicians to suspect alpha-gal syndrome in cases with abdominal pain and GI symptoms, but without traditional allergy symptoms like hives.

• #37 Diagnosis and treatment of the alpha-Gal syndrome | JAA

  https://www.dovepress.com/current-and-future-strategies-for-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-the-a-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA

  The -Gal syndrome (AGS) is a pathognomonic immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated delayed anaphylaxis in foods containing the oligosaccharide galactose–1,3-galactose (-Gal) such as mammalian meat or dairy products. […] Due to inapparent presentation, delayed reactions and a wide variety of patients clinical history, the AGS diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. […] AGS is currently considered an emergent life-threatening allergy in tick endemic areas worldwide. […] Risk factors for developing sIgE to -Gal are related to the probability of individual tick bite-exposure in certain environmental conditions, including practice of outdoor activities (eg, hunting or hiking), living in rural areas, pet-ownership, and certain jobs such as forest service employees. […] The AGS is an allergic disorder that challenges clinical diagnosis due to inapparent presentation and delayed reactions.

• #38 Alpha-gal syndrome: Recognizing and managing a tick-bite–related meat allergy | Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine

  https://www.ccjm.org/content/92/5/311

  Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging condition characterized by an immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated reaction to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) after consumption of mammalian-derived food products. […] Identified in the early 2000s, the syndrome is linked to sensitization through tick bites; in the United States, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is the main vector. […] Between 2010 and 2022, more than 100,000 cases of presumed alpha-gal syndrome were identified in the United States; however, the exact prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome is unknown. […] A nationwide survey of 1,500 healthcare professionals by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 42% were unaware of the condition, and 35% lacked confidence in diagnosing or treating patients with alpha-gal syndrome.

• #39 CDC alerts clinicians to signs of alpha-gal syndrome | MDedge

  https://mdedge.com/gihepnews/article/264751/ibd-intestinal-disorders/cdc-alerts-clinicians-signs-alpha-gal-syndrome

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a report alerting clinicians to emerging cases of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) linked with tick bites. […] A Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report demonstrates that health care provider knowledge is low surrounding AGS. Almost half of the 1,500 health care providers surveyed (42%) had never heard of the syndrome and another 35% were not confident in diagnosing or managing affected patients. […] The low knowledge is concerning because the range of the lone star tick, which is the species primarily associated with this syndrome, is expanding. The knowledge gaps may lead to delayed or overlooked diagnoses. […] Another Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, with lead author Johanna S. Salzer, DVM, PhD, of the CDC, also issued on July 28, notes that specific symptoms and severity of AGS vary and no cure or treatment is currently available. From 2010 to 2018, there were more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS in the United States, but current knowledge of where the cases have occurred is limited, the study authors write.

• #40 CDC alerts clinicians to signs of alpha-gal syndrome | MDedge

  https://mdedge.com/gihepnews/article/264751/ibd-intestinal-disorders/cdc-alerts-clinicians-signs-alpha-gal-syndrome

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a report alerting clinicians to emerging cases of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) linked with tick bites. […] A Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report demonstrates that health care provider knowledge is low surrounding AGS. Almost half of the 1,500 health care providers surveyed (42%) had never heard of the syndrome and another 35% were not confident in diagnosing or managing affected patients. […] The low knowledge is concerning because the range of the lone star tick, which is the species primarily associated with this syndrome, is expanding. The knowledge gaps may lead to delayed or overlooked diagnoses. […] Another Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, with lead author Johanna S. Salzer, DVM, PhD, of the CDC, also issued on July 28, notes that specific symptoms and severity of AGS vary and no cure or treatment is currently available. From 2010 to 2018, there were more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS in the United States, but current knowledge of where the cases have occurred is limited, the study authors write.

• #41 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Article | The United States Army

  https://www.army.mil/article/276333/military_health_experts_warn_about_potentially_life_threatening_meat_allergy_from_tick_bite

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 500,000 people in the U.S. have a serious allergic condition called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, also known as the red-meat allergy or tick-bite meat allergy. […] Data show that cases of AGS are rising in the U.S. […] According to CDC surveillance, AGS cases in the U.S. steadily increased from 2019 to 2022. […] The CDC recognized the emerging significance of AGS by establishing a unique AGS medical code, Z91.014, in January 2022. […] However, CDC reported in a July 2023 Health Advisory that many health care providers still had not heard of AGS or would not recognize if a patients symptoms were related to AGS. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion found the number of AGS diagnoses is growing in the military. Their analysis found 1,080 individuals with AGS diagnosis, and case numbers were increasing in same-month comparisons between years. […] Cases were also diagnosed in the Northeast and Central U.S., which corresponded with CDCs AGS surveillance findings. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion recognize that as AGS becomes more recognized by doctors, the number of cases diagnosed may continue to increase.

• #42

  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alpha-gal-red-meat-allergy-lone-star-tick-bites-cdc/

  Thousands more Americans are now testing positive each year for alpha-gal syndrome a condition spread by tick bites that causes allergic reactions to eating red meat. New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows up to 450,000 people in the U.S. may have been affected since 2010. […] Many cases are also likely going undiagnosed, the CDC now says, citing „concerning” knowledge gaps found in a separate study among American doctors surveyed about the red meat allergy. […] „The burden of alpha-gal syndrome in the United States could be substantial given the large percentage of cases suspected to be going undiagnosed due to non-specific and inconsistent symptoms, challenges seeking healthcare, and lack of clinician awareness,” the CDC’s Dr. Johanna Salzer said in a release.

• #43

  https://www.healio.com/news/allergy-asthma/20230612/alphagal-syndrome-testing-increases-but-positive-test-proportions-remain-stable

  The number of patients tested for alpha-gal syndrome increased across middle Tennessee from 2013 to 2022, but the proportion of confirmed cases remained stable, according to a letter published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma Immunology. […] The study reviewed 757 patients evaluated for alpha-gal syndrome in a hospital system in Nashville, Tennessee, between 2013 and 2022, based on Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) discussions to focus on high-pretest probability patients with suspected tick exposure. […] As awareness of alpha-gal syndrome grew among patients and providers between 2013 and 2022, the researchers said, so did testing, which increased from eight tests sent in 2013 to 185 tests sent in 2021. […] But despite these increases, the mean annual proportion of confirmed cases remained stable at 0.59 cases per test sent for the full study period. The proportion of positive test results remained stable during the study period as well.

• #44

  https://www.healio.com/news/allergy-asthma/20230612/alphagal-syndrome-testing-increases-but-positive-test-proportions-remain-stable

  By using an alpha-gal case definition, the researchers concluded, they found increasing incidence of confirmed alpha-gal cases in middle Tennessee while awareness of the disease was increasing as well. […] Finally, regarding epidemiology, in a perfect world, we would have a national registry and have challenge-proven diagnosis to really understand the epidemiology of alpha-gal allergy.

• #45 Health: Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention Division: Alpha-gal Syndrome

  https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/vector-borne-diseases/alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a tick bite. […] AGS is associated with tick bites. Evidence suggests that AGS is primarily associated with the bite of a lone star tick in the United States, but other kinds of ticks have not been ruled out. Other tick species have been connected with the development of AGS in other countries. […] A CDC report showed that between 2010 and 2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified. However, this number might be underestimated due to it not being a nationally notifiable disease. Alpha-gal syndrome is not a state-reportable condition in Indiana.

• #46 What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome | ASTHO

  https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/what-health-officials-should-know-about-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called red meat allergy, is an emerging allergic condition mainly caused by the bite of a lone star tick and is characterized by an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to alpha-gal. […] To prepare for the potential of increasing AGS cases, health officials should consider the need for tick surveillance and control. […] From 2010-2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited since AGS is not a nationally notifiable condition. […] However, since doctors are not required to report the number of patients with AGS, the true number of affected individuals and locations is unknown. […] To prepare for increasing cases of AGS, health officials should consider critical infrastructure needs for tick surveillance and control.

• #47 Alpha-Gal (Allergy) – Arkansas Department of Health

  https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/diseases-conditions/diseases-from-animals-insects/alpha-gal-allergy/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), is a delayed allergy to mammalian meats and products and is initially caused by a tick bite. […] In the United States, the allergy most commonly occurs in eastern and southern states, which corresponds to the distribution of the Lone Star tick. In the southern United States, where the tick is most prevalent, allergy rates are 32% higher than elsewhere. Arkansas was the first state to make AGS a reportable condition in September of 2023. Data from AGS surveillance is crucial for learning more about this novel condition.

• #48 Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | Alpha-gal Syndrome

  https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/alphagal.shtml

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) (also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to alpha-gal, which is a sugar molecule found in many mammals, but not in people. […] NJDOH started statewide surveillance for AGS effective January 1, 2022 to better understand the local epidemiology, recognize areas in New Jersey where AGS incidence has increased or decreased, focus preventive education on tick bite prevention to reduce overall tickborne disease risk, and to increase healthcare provider awareness of AGS.

• #49 Military Health Experts Warn about Potentially Life-Threatening Meat Allergy from Tick Bite | Article | The United States Army

  https://www.army.mil/article/276333/military_health_experts_warn_about_potentially_life_threatening_meat_allergy_from_tick_bite

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 500,000 people in the U.S. have a serious allergic condition called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, also known as the red-meat allergy or tick-bite meat allergy. […] Data show that cases of AGS are rising in the U.S. […] According to CDC surveillance, AGS cases in the U.S. steadily increased from 2019 to 2022. […] The CDC recognized the emerging significance of AGS by establishing a unique AGS medical code, Z91.014, in January 2022. […] However, CDC reported in a July 2023 Health Advisory that many health care providers still had not heard of AGS or would not recognize if a patients symptoms were related to AGS. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion found the number of AGS diagnoses is growing in the military. Their analysis found 1,080 individuals with AGS diagnosis, and case numbers were increasing in same-month comparisons between years. […] Cases were also diagnosed in the Northeast and Central U.S., which corresponded with CDCs AGS surveillance findings. […] Robinson and Scatliffe-Carrion recognize that as AGS becomes more recognized by doctors, the number of cases diagnosed may continue to increase.

• #50 Research and epidemiology – Alpha-gal Alliance ACTION FUND

  https://alphagalaction.org/research-and-epidemiology/

  Advance alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) research and surveillance. […] Improve surveillance of alpha-gal syndrome to aid public health decision-making. […] Public health experts, including the CDC, the Congressionally-mandated Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, and alpha-gal syndrome experts have identified a critical need for improved surveillance of AGS in order to: Determine the true incidence and prevalence of AGS in the general population. […] The CDC identified a critical need for: Improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making. […] The CDC also created a surveillance case definition of AGS and is encouraging states and local jurisdictions to share information on AGS with members of CDC’s Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch to better understand national trends. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #51 Research and epidemiology – Alpha-gal Alliance ACTION FUND

  https://alphagalaction.org/research-and-epidemiology/

  Advance alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) research and surveillance. […] Improve surveillance of alpha-gal syndrome to aid public health decision-making. […] Public health experts, including the CDC, the Congressionally-mandated Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, and alpha-gal syndrome experts have identified a critical need for improved surveillance of AGS in order to: Determine the true incidence and prevalence of AGS in the general population. […] The CDC identified a critical need for: Improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making. […] The CDC also created a surveillance case definition of AGS and is encouraging states and local jurisdictions to share information on AGS with members of CDC’s Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch to better understand national trends. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #52 Garbarino, Spanberger Introduce Legislation To Better Monitor Tick-Born Illness That Triggers Red Meat Allergy | Representative Andrew Garbarino

  http://garbarino.house.gov/media/press-releases/garbarino-spanberger-introduce-legislation-better-monitor-tick-born-illness

  Today, Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) announce the introduction of the bipartisan Recognize AGS Act which would allow for greater monitoring and reporting of instances of Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). […] Counties within New York and Virginia have been identified by the CDC as having the highest number of suspected cases of AGS nationwide. […] On July 27, 2023, the CDC released an updated report about the prevalence of AGS in the United States. Originally estimated at 5,000 cases in 2013, the CDC now estimates that up to 450,000 people in the US have AGS. […] However, AGS is still not currently a nationally notifiable condition. This legislation would require the CDC to take such steps as may be necessary to include AGS on the list of NNDSS.

• #53 What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome | ASTHO

  https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/what-health-officials-should-know-about-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called red meat allergy, is an emerging allergic condition mainly caused by the bite of a lone star tick and is characterized by an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to alpha-gal. […] To prepare for the potential of increasing AGS cases, health officials should consider the need for tick surveillance and control. […] From 2010-2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited since AGS is not a nationally notifiable condition. […] However, since doctors are not required to report the number of patients with AGS, the true number of affected individuals and locations is unknown. […] To prepare for increasing cases of AGS, health officials should consider critical infrastructure needs for tick surveillance and control.

• #54 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017–December 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm

  During 20102018, more than 34,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited. […] The highest numbers of suspected AGS cases were identified in counties within New York (Suffolk [3,746]) and Virginia (Bedford [1,511]); 4% of all suspected cases nationwide resided in Suffolk County, New York. […] The geographic distribution of AGS is very similar to that of ehrlichiosis, caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii, disease agents also known to be transmitted by the lone star tick. […] The results of the current study can aid in initiating national surveillance efforts for this emerging allergic condition and for geographically targeting high-risk populations for public health outreach and HCP education. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including community education targeting tick bite prevention to reduce the risk for acquiring AGS, HCP education to improve timely diagnosis and management, and improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #55 What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome | ASTHO

  https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/what-health-officials-should-know-about-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  There is a critical need for public health activities to prevent and control tickborne diseases like community education around tick bite prevention, health care provider education for timely diagnosis and allergic condition management, and improved tick surveillance. […] Health agencies have an important role in educating and collaborating with local programs, providers, and allergists to develop and implement strategies to help protect people from tickborne diseases.

• #56 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017–December 2022 | MMWR

  https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7230a2.htm

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging, tick biteassociated allergic condition characterized by potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity to an oligosaccharide found in most mammalian meat and products derived from it; however, in the absence of national surveillance, the geographic distribution and number of cases are largely unknown. […] The number of suspected AGS cases in the United States has increased substantially since 2010, and states with established populations of lone star ticks are most affected, although suspected AGS cases were also identified in areas outside of this ticks range. […] These data highlight the evolving emergence of AGS and can be used to help state and local health agencies initiate surveillance and target public health outreach and health care provider education to high-risk localities.

• #57 Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases – United States, January 2017-December 2022 – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37498787/

  Among 233,521 persons for whom geographic data were available, suspected cases predominantly occurred in counties within the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic U.S. Census Bureau regions. […] These data highlight the evolving emergence of AGS and can be used to help state and local health agencies initiate surveillance and target public health outreach and health care provider education to high-risk localities.

• #58 Research and epidemiology – Alpha-gal Alliance ACTION FUND

  https://alphagalaction.org/research-and-epidemiology/

  Advance alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) research and surveillance. […] Improve surveillance of alpha-gal syndrome to aid public health decision-making. […] Public health experts, including the CDC, the Congressionally-mandated Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, and alpha-gal syndrome experts have identified a critical need for improved surveillance of AGS in order to: Determine the true incidence and prevalence of AGS in the general population. […] The CDC identified a critical need for: Improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making. […] The CDC also created a surveillance case definition of AGS and is encouraging states and local jurisdictions to share information on AGS with members of CDC’s Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch to better understand national trends. […] If testing trends continue, and the geographic range of the lone star tick continues to expand, the number of AGS cases in the United States is predicted to increase during the coming years, presenting a critical need for synergistic public health activities including improved surveillance to aid public health decision-making.

• #59 Genetic and Immunological Insights into Tick-Bite Hypersensitivity and Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Case Study Approach

  https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/2/680

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is tick-bite-associated allergy to mammalian meat, caused by IgE acting against galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (aGal). AGS is reported worldwide and is most commonly associated with prior exposure to tick bites. […] The global burden of AGS is unknown since a large proportion of cases are undiagnosed due to non-specific and inconsistent symptoms or a lack of awareness among medical professionals.

• #60 What Health Officials Should Know About Alpha-Gal Syndrome | ASTHO

  https://www.astho.org/communications/blog/what-health-officials-should-know-about-alpha-gal-syndrome/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), sometimes called red meat allergy, is an emerging allergic condition mainly caused by the bite of a lone star tick and is characterized by an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to alpha-gal. […] To prepare for the potential of increasing AGS cases, health officials should consider the need for tick surveillance and control. […] From 2010-2022, more than 110,000 suspected cases of AGS were identified in the United States, but current knowledge of where cases occur is limited since AGS is not a nationally notifiable condition. […] However, since doctors are not required to report the number of patients with AGS, the true number of affected individuals and locations is unknown. […] To prepare for increasing cases of AGS, health officials should consider critical infrastructure needs for tick surveillance and control.

• #61 Alpha Gal Syndrome: A potentially life-threatening, tick-borne allergy

  https://www.wtap.com/2025/01/01/alpha-gal-syndrome-potentially-life-threatening-tick-borne-allergy/

  It is estimated that Alpha-Gal Syndrome affected as many as 450,000 people between 2010 and 2022, but the true number of those affected could be even higher. […] Salzer says the number of cases are increasing every year. She attributes this to a combination of increased healthcare provider awareness of the allergy and people having more contact with Lone Star Ticks. […] The Lone Star Ticks geographical range may be increasing, according a study from the National Library of Medicine. They say, Imperfect surveillance and reporting systems in addition to the limitations of the currently available diagnostics underappreciate their true public health footprint. […] AGS is a global phenomenon…. there are not Lone Star ticks in Europe or Australia or South America, but all of these places have AGS. Its just different ticks.

• #62 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230802/The-evolving-emergence-of-alpha-gal-syndrome-in-the-United-States.aspx

  Overall, the findings highlighted the rising trends in AGS prevalence among US residents between 2017 and 2022, with states with established lone star tick populations being the most impacted, while suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases were also reported in locations outside of this tick’s range. […] The findings support AGS in community outreach addressing tickborne illness prevention efforts, especially as tick exposures resulting from AGS may have long-term health consequences. […] It is uncertain if the rising number of suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases reflects higher awareness, increased emergence, or both.

• #63 Scholarly Article or Book Chapter | Environmental risk and Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) in the Mid-Atlantic United States | ID: 2227n4463 | Carolina Digital Repository

  https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/articles/2227n4463

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), commonly referred to as the tick bite red meat allergy, has been reported worldwide with the number of suspected cases in the United States increasing from 24 in 2009 to over 34,000 in 2019. […] Within the US, AGS is associated with the bite of two tick species, Amblyomma americanum and Ixodes scapularis, and has particularly high incidence rates in the mid-Atlantic region. […] Despite this, as well as the numerous studies associating the environment with Am. americanum, no work to-date has evaluated AGS risk factors associated with the surrounding landscape. […] We found that models mostly agree when determining important environmental variables, with open space development and population density being highly predictive across all models. […] These results provide evidence that AGS is associated with land uses that are associated with habitat fragmentation, the preferred habitat of Am. americanum.

• #64 Diagnosis and treatment of the alpha-Gal syndrome | JAA

  https://www.dovepress.com/current-and-future-strategies-for-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-the-a-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA

  Diagnostic techniques for this syndrome are not specific and/or represent a risk for the patients health, whereas more precise methods still show limitations to its use. […] Over 10 years have passed since the discovery of AGS, but many questions remain unclear that still need to be elucidated, especially those related to the diagnostic and therapeutical approaches used for this syndrome. […] Current diagnostic methods lack specificity or are too risky for routinary appliance, creating the need to overcome these limitations with more precise methods. […] With climate change, the tick-host paradigm will shift towards an increasing number of AGS cases in new regions worldwide, which will pose new challenges for clinicians in the future.

• #65 University of Illinois Chicago

  https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2023-2/december-2023-faqs/what-are-institutional-perioperative-practices-for-patients-with-alpha-gal-allergy/

  Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also referred to as mammalian (or red) meat allergy, is a recently recognized allergic condition tied to tick bite exposure. […] According to a 2023 CDC report, approximately 34,000 suspected alpha-gal allergy cases were reported in the 8-year period between 2010 and 2018. However, this number has increased to about 13,000 to 18,000 every year between 2017 and 2022 for an approximate total of 90,000 cases over 6 years with a predominance occurring in those living in the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic regions of the US. […] The information on products containing alpha-gal and their association with eliciting a reaction in patients with alpha-gal IgE is evolving and can change over time. […] Awareness and detection of AGS is increasing and the consequences of using products derived from or containing alpha-gal can range from no reaction to anaphylaxis.

• #66 Journal of Medical Internet Research – Emerging Trends in Information-Seeking Behavior for Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Infodemiology Study Using Time Series and Content Analysis

  https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e49928

  Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging allergy characterized by an immune reaction to the carbohydrate molecule alpha-gal found in red meat. […] Cases of the allergy are on the rise, but prevalence estimates do not currently exist. […] The alpha-gal syndrome is not a reportable or notifiable condition and was only granted a separate International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code for diagnostic identification in 2022. Therefore, little data exist on the prevalence of the allergy. […] The study provides insights into the changing information-seeking patterns for alpha-gal, indicating growing awareness and interest. […] Understanding specific questions and concerns can help health care providers and public health educators to tailor communication strategies. […] Further research is needed to explore the evolving prevalence and impact of alpha-gal syndrome.

• #67 Alpha-gal syndrome: How a tick bite can make you allergic to meat | Prevention | UT Southwestern Medical Center

  https://utswmed.org/medblog/meat-allergy-alpha-gal-tick-bite/

  But the emergence of alpha-gal syndrome, which causes some people to develop a long-term allergy to red meat and other animal food products, is very real. A recent study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed alpha-gal syndrome may affect up to 450,000 people in the U.S. and that number is rising as warmer temperatures create a more favorable environment for the expansion of lone star tick populations. […] Many people with alpha-gal syndrome go undiagnosed for years because nearly half of health care providers have little or no knowledge of the condition, which has only come into focus in the last decade or so. […] As the lone star tick continues to expand its range across the country, we’re likely to see more cases of alpha-gal syndrome. Increased awareness and knowledge of the condition will be crucial to making sure patients get a prompt diagnosis and proper treatment for their symptoms.

• #68 Diagnosis and treatment of the alpha-Gal syndrome | JAA

  https://www.dovepress.com/current-and-future-strategies-for-the-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-the-a-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JAA

  Diagnostic techniques for this syndrome are not specific and/or represent a risk for the patients health, whereas more precise methods still show limitations to its use. […] Over 10 years have passed since the discovery of AGS, but many questions remain unclear that still need to be elucidated, especially those related to the diagnostic and therapeutical approaches used for this syndrome. […] Current diagnostic methods lack specificity or are too risky for routinary appliance, creating the need to overcome these limitations with more precise methods. […] With climate change, the tick-host paradigm will shift towards an increasing number of AGS cases in new regions worldwide, which will pose new challenges for clinicians in the future.

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