A tick that is making people become allergic to meat is spreading across the United States, with one ecologist saying climate change could be to blame.
The Lone Star tick has a single white dot on the back of females, and is spreading across the US with cases recorded in areas such as New York and Jersey, according to a report.
The tick transmits a molecule - otherwise known as an alpha-gal - that's normally found in mammals they have fed on to people they bite.
A report by the Scientific American says that Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergic reaction that can happen after someone is bitten by a Lone Star tick.
Historically, these ticks are found in south central and southeastern US, but are now spreading to New Jersey and New York State's Long Island, as well as some further reports along the Eastern Seaboard and in parts of the Midwest.
Once a person is infected, it causes a person’s immune system to attack the alpha-gal molecules found in non-primate mammals such as cows and pigs. This can happen even if the meat being eaten is safe.
The Scientific American reported that an allergic reaction can be triggered even when the amount of meat is small as the person's antibodies try to fight off the alpha-gal.
Richard S Ostfeld, a disease ecologist and a distinguished senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, told the publication that climate change may be to blame for the spread, although researchers are wary of drawing such a conclusion because it's difficult to test.
“There are studies that suggest that, as the climate continues to warm, the geographic range of the lone star tick will not expand, although most studies suggest that it will," he said.
The allergic reaction trigged by meat consumption following a Lone Star tick bite can begin anywhere between two to six hours after ingesting alpha-gal, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, this can vary from person to person, and symptoms of AGS include swelling, inflammation and tingling all over the body, the Independent reports.
There can also be life threatening reactions such as seizures, and most cases have gone undiagnosed for long periods of time.
At present, there is no known cure for AGS, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and to help keep children comfortable.
