Meat allergy Violent immune reaction in meat consumption after tick bites

New test detects a meat allergy more clearly

The bite into a juicy steak - for many people the epitome of a delicious meal, for some, however, the meat consumption can be a health horror trip. The so-called alpha-gal syndrome describes an allergic reaction that occurs two to six hours after consumption of red meat. Not much is known about the causes of this puzzling allergy. Researchers report, however, that the meat allergy develops mainly after strong inflammatory reactions due to a tick bite. A German-Luxembourg research team recently developed a test to diagnose alpha-gal syndrome.

People who suffer from an alpha-gal syndrome develop severe allergic reactions after eating red meat such as beef, pork, lamb or venison. These can range from redness, respiratory distress and allergic circulatory shock. Since the symptoms do not appear until two to six hours after consumption, it is difficult to associate the suffering with the consumption of meat. Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health have now developed a test that can better identify this rare allergy. The study results were recently presented in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

For people with a meat allergy, every dreamlike steak becomes a nightmare. A new blood test can diagnose the rare allergy. (Image: karandaev / fotolia.com)

The meat allergy has only been known for several years

The existence of meat allergy was first demonstrated in 2009 by US scientists. Even then, the researchers suspected that the alpha-gal syndrome develops mainly as a result of tick bites. The immediate triggers for this food allergy, according to the researchers special sugars that sit on the surface of cells of mammals. These sugars are called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or Alpha-Gal for short. Human cells do not possess these alpha-gal sugars.

Animal sugars trigger the allergic reactions

According to the research team, these animal sugars can cause allergic reactions in some people if they enter the bloodstream as a result of a meat meal. So far, this food intolerance could only be demonstrated by the subjects undergo a complex and dangerous oral provocation test: "The persons ate under medical supervision meat in ever larger quantities until it came to an allergic reaction," says project manager Dr. med. Christiane Hilger. Because of the time delay, the test is very complex and not without risks.

Blood test replaces dangerous provocation test

The German-Luxembourg research team has now succeeded in largely replacing this provocation test with a blood test. In the new blood test, the blood of those affected with artificial allergens is stimulated. "A strong reaction of basophils (white blood cells) to the lowest allergen levels is a clear indication of the alpha-gal syndrome," the researchers write in a press release on the study results.

Tick ​​saliva causes the rare meat allergy?

"We still know very little about the causes and the immunological basis of the alpha-gal syndrome," sums up Hilger. So far it has been observed that especially humans develop a meat allergy, which previously showed a strong inflammatory reaction to a tick bite. Which substances in the saliva of the ticks trigger this reaction and what exactly happens in the immune system, should now be clarified in further research.

Basophils for the diagnosis of allergies

The research team also showed through the study that the behavior of basophils in the blood is suitable for determining allergies. The team points to further studies that have shown that these cells are of interest for further allergological diagnostics as they also react strongly to other allergenic substances. (Vb)