Episode 17: Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Tick Bite that can turn you Vegan

Are you a red blooded meat eater? Do you enjoy the taste of steak more than anything else? Well, I've got some bad news for you. A peanut sized parasite might be the only thing standing between you and veganism. Today on The Odder, we are talking Alpha-Gal Syndrome and the tick bite that spread it. Get ready to get creepy and crawly! 

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Music Credit:
"Cattails" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Main Theme:
"Dream Catcher" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Transcript

Episode 17: Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Tick Bite that can turn you Vegan

1. Hello and Welcome to the Odder podcast. I’m your host Madison Paige, and today we are checking each other for ticks in the most clinical sense of the saying. Be sure to check thoroughly because one stray tick can be what stands between you and a big juicy steak. Today on The Odder, we are talking about Alpha-Gal Syndrome and the tick that's bite can change everything. So pack your bug spray and wear some long layers and Let’s go!
2. Hello again! Welcome back everyone returning and everyone listening for the first time.If you are new, Welcome Welcome, on The Odder we are a mixed bag of trail mix as we discuss all the strange, unsolved, unexplained and just plain odd things about the world and the people in it. Thank you to everyone who left a new review on the podcast. It really helps! So how is everyone? Are we all doing good and hanging in there? I hope everybody who was in the path of the hurricane is safe and doing okay. I also hope you all enjoyed last week's episode about Harold Holt. What was your favorite theory about what happened? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. I feel it makes the most sense that he drowned but the escape in the submarine is really fun to consider. Today we are going to give some folks the creepy crawlies as we talk about Alpha-Gal and the tick that brings it to the dinner table. So if you feel a skittering on your thigh or an itch on your shoulder, it's probably just a hair. Probably. 
3. Let’s have a little mental walk together. Let’s imagine its a warm summer morning in May. Your out in the woods on a camping trip surrounded by friends or family or maybe your all by yourself on a little personal journey. Your campsite is snug and cozy but you get a little antsy and decide to go for an early walk along a trail. The sun sparkles through the canopy of trees, the sounds of birdsong and chattering squirrels surround you, you are at peace. The grass is tall and you do have to brush through it at some point but you don't mind. IT’s a great walk but when you get back to camp, you notice a little brown bug on your leg. LEaning forward to examine it, you realize its a tick and quickly twist it off. It leaves behind a small red mark but it's just a tick, nothing to worry about. You finish off the trip and head back to your home. Later down the line you're at a cookout where you have a burger and a beer with your friends. About four hours later, you start to feel sick. Your lips swell up and you break out in hives. Your stomach is turning and you become nauseous. You may think to yourself “Oh, I must have eaten something bad”. And you’d be right. The problem in this scenario is not what you ate but what ate you first. 
4. About 32 million people in the US have a food allergy. These are most often triggered by the consumption of milk, peanuts, shellfish or something of the like. An allergic reaction occurs when the body mistakenly identifies a substance as a threat and sets off an immune response. For the majority of people, food allergies will develop in childhood and they will learn to avoid the food or products containing it. However, adults can also randomly develop an allergy. However, you can also “catch” an allergy. Specifically you can catch it from a tick. 
5. The Lone Star Tick strokes fear in the mere mention of its name. Now, nobody likes ticks. Small creepy and crawlies so tiny you might not even feel it climb up your sneaker to slip under your jean leg and dig its little snout into your skin. Lone Star Ticks are most commonly associated with Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is rarely fatal, but if left untreated, it can spread to the joints, the heart, the connective tissue, and the nervous system, and lead to debilitating long-term pain, cognitive problems, and fatigue that can persist even after antibiotics. Lyme disease is identified by its target shaped rash that spreads from the bite wound. But while Lyme disease may be a legitimate concern should you discover a tick lip locked with your leg, it is not the only one. 
6. Nature has many natural nosferatu that hide amongst the foliage. Mosquitos carrying malaria that buzz about leaving behind red itchy welts, lice that leave you the mock of the classroom and send people itching at their scalps with just a mention, fleas that hop from one warm body to another and were the source of one of the worse diseases in human history, the bubonic plague. However, amongst these blood hungry heavy weights is the humble tick. Seen more as a passing nuisance than a true danger, it thrives in tall grasses and warm summer spots and bites its prey indiscriminately. Ticks feed by biting and then burrowing into the victim to drink its fill before falling off. 
7. While most pepaws and memaws will wave off a sobbing toddler when presented with the pill sized parasite as nothing to sob over, ticks are actually known to host a variety of illnesses. Black-legged ticks are best known for carrying the aforementioned Lyme disease as well as anaplasmosis and Powassan virus disease. The Dog tick which is much larger can leave its host with Tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The star of our show, the Lone Star Tick is known for southern tick-associated rash illness, Bourbon virus disease, Heartland virus disease and the one whe are talking about today; Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
8. Now I think, I’ve dragged out the opener enough and you may be asking, Madison, you said something about a tick bite making me, a red meat loving american, suddenly start craving the lettuce. Well, that's correct. Those who contract Alpha-Gal Syndrome develop an allergy to red meat among other things. Alpha-Gal is permanent and as of this podcast has no cure. Once you have it, you have it for good. 
9. That's right, this nasty nosferatu is turning more people to tofu than peta and it is surprisingly virulent with a staging number of 34,000 documented cases spanning from 2010 to 2018 alone. 
10. Let’s look at one such victim. 
11. Beth Carrison was a main woman who found a tick embedded in her back and then developed a rash days later. Carrison herself was not a big meat eater but told News Center Maine that she did have a fondness for pork. She noticed following the tick bite that after consuming bacon, a burning and itching rash would appear. This would also happen if she was even near cooking pork. The allergy was so bad that she would leave the grocery store covered in hives. She was eventually diagnosed with Alpha-Gal caused by that tick found on her back. 
12. So how does a tick bite change a fundamental aspect of your biology? Well, let's start with what Alpha-Gal is. Alpha-Gal is a sugar molecule found in most mammals. It is predominantly found in red meat and game such as rabbits, beef, pork, and as well as products made from mammals including gelatin and milk products. Fish, reptiles, birds, and people do not contain Alpha-Gal. The infection happens following the bite of a lone star tick who carries the Alpha-Gal molecule which is released into the victim of said tick bite. Now since humans don't naturally have this molecule occurring within them, their body detects it  and treats it as it does most unknown threats, it triggers an immune response similar to any allergic reaction. Your body then uses a specialized system that “remembers” what triggered that allergic reaction and starts to keep an eye out for it. So even though you may have been eating juicy steaks for years which contained the Alpha-Gal molecule with no issue, the body now has a file where it encountered the Alpha-Gal by itself. That file tells the body that this molecule was a threat and is still a threat and it triggers another allergic reaction which can be fatal. 
13. Alpha-Gal also does not behave similarly to other allergic reactions. While somebody who accidentally consumes peanuts may immediately descend into crisis, symptoms for Alpha-Gal Syndrome typically do not appear for 2-6 hours following the consumption of meat or dairy products containing the molecule. The symptoms to look out for include:
14. Hives or itchy rash
15. Nausea or vomiting
16. Heartburn or indigestion
17. Diarrhea
18. Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
19. Drop in blood pressure
20. Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids
21. Dizziness or faintness
22. Severe stomach pain
23. In severe cases, those affected will experience anaphylaxis which affects many organ systems and require immediate medical intervention. AGS is treated and managed by an allergist but patients are commonly told to stop eating mammalian meat and do their best to avoid products containing products that might have Alpha-Gal such as gelatin. 
24. To illustrate to you how restricting this can be, here is a list that you can cross off your grocery list if you become the unlucky winner of an Alpha-Gal infected lone star tick 
25. No more Mammalian meat for you! This includes; pork, beef, lamb, venison, rabbit as well as organ meats such as liver, lung, heart, kidney, tripe, sweetbreads, scrapple, rocky mountain or prairie oysters and the like. You will also be eating cereal dry as you will no longer be consuming cow's milk or cows milk products that include yogurts, cheese, sour cream, all the good stuff. While many patients with ASG eventually can tolerate milk products, it is advised to avoid it to prevent a flare up. Gelatin is also a big no no! This is objectively the hardest to avoid and gelatin is often hidden in products and requires a scrupulous read of the ingredients list to pick out. Gelatin is also coated on some pills and in some vaccinations so those will also need to be vetted for those suffering with ASG. We are making Granny cry because you can also no longer consume products made from or cooked in mammalian fat such as lard, tallow, or suet and those ingredients can also be found in meat broth, bouillon, stock, and gravy. No more of memaws biscuits and sausage gravy for you. 
26. You will also need to be careful of non-food products that contain Alpha-gal because it is everywhere. Beauty products, over the counter medicines, and supplements may contain Gelatin, Glycerin, MAgnesium Stearate, or bovine extracts all of which are ground for Alpha-Gal. Medical products such as heart valves from either pigs or cows, Monoclonal antibodies, heparin, and even certain antivenoms could contain the molecule and will need to be vetted by medical professionals. 
27. Wow, that is a heck of a restrictive list.
28. So what's safe?
29. Well to put it lightly, you can fill your cart up with Poultry such as chicken, turkey, duck or quail, eggs, fish and seafood as well as fruit and veg. A very clean eating cart however unfortunately several people with Alpha-Gal have to use delivery or have someone else do their grocery shopping and eating out also becomes non-existent as the particles of alpha-gal can scatter through the air and cause allergic reaction just by being in an open area near a product containing it. 
30. This allergy is serious and it's scary to think a simple bite from a tick can reroute your whole routine and affect the lives of those around you. If your partner contracts this allergy, it also means that if you want to do any smooching you're gonna have to cut the red meats out of your diet and transfer allergies from particles on your body can pose a real threat. 
31. So how can you spot a lone star tick? Well, the hot season for the tick is early spring through late fall. The tick is distinguished by a single white dot on its back. They are notably present in the south but as referenced before in the woman from Maine, they have started to migrate and can be found nearly everywhere. 
32. Now if i’ve spooked you enough and you are feeling the creepy crawlies all over your skin, here is how you can protect yourself from the tick. Bug spray is actually effective towards keeping ticks off you. Wear long clothing that covers exposed areas when venturing through wooded terrain such as leggings or jeans and tall socks. Rain Boots are also surprisingly effective as the slick outer shell is hard to climb. Avoid grassy, brushy, or wooded areas when possible. You can also treat your clothes and gear with Permethrin. After your trek in the woods, check yourself and your loved ones for ticks paying special attention to the scalp where hair provides natural cover. A shower is a good way of performing a self check on yourself. Check over your furry companions as well to make sure they dont bring home any unwarranted friends. 
33. Now let's say you discover a tick. What do you do? Where I am from, the question is answered with a quick pull it off and stick a lighter on the tick to burn it. But since this is a professional podcast, I’ll give you the CDC recommendation. First determine if it is a Lone Star tick by looking for that white dot then Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by Putting it in alcohol, Placing it in a sealed bag/container, Wrapping it tightly in tape, or Flushing it down the toilet.
34. Monitor the bite for any rash or other reaction. If one becomes apparent or you experience flu-like symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor. 
35. Now you wear your long layers and your rain boots and you're efficient with the bug spray and the flea and tick treatment on your dog and cat but you want a little more assurance that your back yard isn't crawling with the little blood drinkers, might I suggest something foul? 
36. Guinea Fowl to be exact. If you have the space and the permit to own livestock, Guinea fowl are excellent at controlling the tick population. They eat all kinds of ticks which makes them natural population control birds. A single guinea can take care of all of the ticks in your yard. Not only do they eat ticks on the ground, but they will occasionally eat the ticks found on bigger animals such as livestock. If Guinea Fowl are too trepidatious, how about turkey? They like pecking at the ground and grabbing anything that moves.Turkeys can eat 200 ticks every day. Chicken are also natural tick traps. Many farmers rely on chickens to take care of their tick problems. These birds live in coops and often do well when they live in small groups. Chickens can consume ticks that live on or close to the ground. They will also remove ticks from cows and other larger animals.
37. If you can't stomach the thought of owning a herd of birds, then supporting the life of nature's natural Tick taker might be just your style. The Opossum in all its white furred glory is a tick munching master. A single opossum will consume up to 5,000 ticks in a single season and remove 95% of the ticks on themselves for a quick snack. So if you see an opossum or two cruisin your yard, leave it be! Thats a hard working pest control service for free. 
38. All jokes aside, Alpha-Gal is a serious allergy and needs to be treated carefully. While it can affect anyone at any time, practicing safe habits and being aware goes a long way. It’s wild that something like a tick bite can suddenly render someone with a severe food allergy to a dinner time staple but nature is odd like that. I guess it really makes you realize how fragile our realities are. And how quickly something so simple can change everything. 
39. Well, that's all for this episode. So what do you think? Are we all destined to become vegan? Maybe this is all an elaborate hoax to get us to buy fake meat? How much do you love possums? Let us know what you think on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and leave a review. The Odder Pod is now on TikTok. Come follow us there! Have a suggestion for a show? Send me an email at theodderpod@gmail.com with your request and whether you’d like me to mention your name, your alias, or nothing at all. Remember this is The Odder Side so give me something cool, creepy, or confusing to deep dive for you. If you liked the show, leave us a review! They really help! Make sure to check your loved ones for ticks! And respect the Opossum! They work very hard!  The Odder Podcast posts every other Thursday. Thanks for listening and I’ll see you next time on The Odder side.