Articles
Guide to different tick species and the diseases they carry
Content
Black-legged tick or deer tick
Lone Star tick
Alpha-gal syndrome and the Lone Star tick
American dog tick
Western black-legged tick
Rocky Mountain wood tick
Brown dog tick
Gulf Coast tick
Asian longhorned tick
Soft ticks
Ticks and where to find them
Preventing tick bites
Black-legged tick or deer tick
Lone Star tick
Alpha-gal syndrome and the Lone Star tick
American dog tick
Western black-legged tick
Rocky Mountain wood tick
Brown dog tick
Gulf Coast tick
Asian longhorned tick
Soft ticks
Ticks and where to find them
Preventing tick bites
Alpha-gal syndrome and the Lone Star tick
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.
