Study on meat Allergy: Severe immune reaction to the consumption of meat after tick bites

New Test detects a meat Allergy is unique

The bite into a juicy Steak for many people the epitome of a delicious meal, for some of the meat-consumption can be Trip, however, the health Horror. The so-called alpha-Gal syndrome describes an allergic reaction that occurs two to six hours after eating red meat. The causes of this enigmatic Allergy is currently not much is known. Researchers report, however, that the meat developed an Allergy mainly to strong inflammatory reactions as a result of a tick bite. A German-Luxembourgish research team recently developed a Test, with the alpha-Gal syndrome is diagnose.

Those who suffer from alpha-Gal syndrome, developed after the consumption of red meat such as beef, pork, lamb or wild game meat severe allergic reactions that can range from skin redness, shortness of breath to allergic circulatory shock. Because the symptoms show up until two to six hours after eating, is it hard to get the Suffering with the consumption of meat. Researchers of the Luxembourg Institute of Health have developed a Test that can detect this rare Allergy better. The results of the study were recently presented in the “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”.

The meat Allergy is only in the last few years

The existence of meat Allergy was first demonstrated in 2009 by US-American scientists. Already at that time, the researchers suspected that the alpha-Gal syndrome developed mainly as a result of tick bites. The immediate trigger for this food Allergy special sugars that sit on the surface of cells of mammals, the researchers suggest. These sugars called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose or Alpha-Gal. Human cells do not possess the alpha-Gal sugars.

Animal sugar substances trigger the allergic reactions

According to the research team, these animal-sugar materials may result in some people to have allergic reactions, when you get as a result of a meal of meat into the blood. So far, this food intolerance could be detected only by the Affected subjected to an elaborate and dangerous oral provocation test: “The Affected ate under a doctor’s Supervision meat in ever larger quantities, until it came to the allergic reaction,” reports project leader Dr. Christiane Hilger. Because of the time delay of the Test is very time-consuming and not without risks.

Blood test replaces dangerous provocation test

The German-Luxembourg research team, it is now possible to replace this provocation test as much as possible through a blood test. The new blood test, the blood is stimulated with artificial allergens. “A strong reaction of the basophils (white blood cells) to the slightest allergen quantities is a clear indication on the alpha-Gal syndrome,” write the researchers in a press release of the study results.

Solves the saliva of Ticks, the rare meat Allergy?

“We still know very little about the causes and the immunological basics of the alpha-Gal syndrome,” says Hilger. So far, it has been observed that in particular, people can develop a meat Allergy, which showed previously to be a strong inflammation-reactions to a tick bite. What substances cause in the saliva of ticks this reaction and what happens in the immune system exactly is to be clarified in further research work.

Basophils to Diagnose allergies

The research team showed by the study that the behavior of the basophils in the blood to determine allergies. The Team refers to other studies that have shown that these cells are interesting for further allergological diagnostics, since they also react strongly to other allergenic substances. (vb)