According to American health authorities, a species of tick that can cause an unusual red meat allergy is becoming more common in the U.S. However, sightings of this tick are rare in Canada. Experts, including Jade Savage, a biology professor at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Que., and the principal investigator at eTick.ca, a website that monitors tick populations in Canada, suggest that the species could potentially become more widespread north of the border.
This tick is known as the lone star tick due to the distinctive white mark on its back. In the U.S., it has been linked to over 100,000 cases of alpha-gal syndrome since 2010. As of now, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) states that the tick has not yet been permanently established in Canada.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: An Overview of the Unusual Meat Allergy
Alpha-gal syndrome is a condition that occurs when a lone star tick bites a person and transfers a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the body.
The saliva of the biting tick triggers an allergy in humans when they consume certain animal products, including beef, pork, venison, or meat from other mammals, as well as milk, gelatin, or other mammal-derived products. Alpha-gal is the specific sugar found in red meat.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) explains that all mammals carry the alpha-gal sugar except for humans, which is why people react to the sugar in other mammalian meat.
Lone star ticks are predominantly found in the southeastern, eastern, and Midwestern United States. They thrive in second growth woodland habitats, particularly in areas with a dense population of white-tailed deer, which serves as their main host. These ticks can also be found on domestic animals such as dogs, cattle, horses, goats, and even birds, depending on their life cycle.
Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome may include hives, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue, or eyelids. These reactions typically occur hours after the consumption of the affected animal products.
As for Canada, it remains unclear whether there have been reported cases of alpha-gal syndrome, as the PHAC has not provided any specific numbers when contacted by CTVNews.
Locating Ticks in Canada
Data from eTick reveals that while the lone star tick is most commonly found in the eastern and southern U.S., sightings have been recorded in Canada, primarily in Ontario, and to a lesser extent in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Over the past five years, approximately 100 reported cases of this tick have been documented, according to the site.
Maarten Voordouw, an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan’s veterinary microbiology department specializing in tick research, stated that as of 2022, this tick species has been spreading northwards and is now present in many American states along the Canadian border. He warned that as the tick continues its northward expansion into Canada, there could be an increase in Canadians developing alpha-gal syndrome.
While there have been no significant detections of the lone star tick in British Columbia, Muhammed Morshed, a clinical biologist at the BC Centre for Disease Control, advised that eastern provinces should remain vigilant for this tick in the future.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed that the lone star tick is not yet established in Canada. However, they are aware of its northward expansion in the U.S., similar to ticks carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease, that expanded north in the early 2000s.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health assured that the likelihood of encountering a lone star tick in Saskatchewan is low. They conduct active field surveys to monitor tick populations and reported that no lone star ticks have been detected in the province through these surveys.
Unraveling the Future of Ticks in Canada
In response to concerns about the potential spread of the lone star tick’s range into Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is taking proactive measures to assess its establishment in the country amidst a warming climate. PHAC employs testing methods to determine the likelihood of the tick’s establishment both presently and in the future.
PHAC notes that the lone star ticks that have been reported in Canada thus far have arrived via migratory birds. However, they emphasize that the risk of exposure to these adventitious ticks is currently very low. Consequently, the risk of developing an allergic reaction to these ticks remains minimal.
While there is no specific treatment for alpha-gal syndrome, Muhammed Morshed, a clinical biologist at the BC Centre for Disease Control, advises individuals who may develop allergies following a tick bite to seek immediate medical attention from a hospital or family physician.
Furthermore, taking precautionary measures to prevent tick bites can help reduce the risk of not only alpha-gal syndrome but also other tick-borne diseases. Such measures include wearing protective clothing in wooded and grassy areas, using insect repellent, and regularly checking the skin of oneself and children after spending time outdoors.