Alpha-Gal: Beware of ticks while hunting spring gobblers

A Virginia hunter is sharing her personal experience after contracting a red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome, a condition linked to tick bites and increasingly seen among members of the state’s hunting community.

Emily Strother was hunting spring gobblers in 2019 when she was bitten by a tick that ultimately triggered the allergy. Despite taking precautions against ticks on every trip into the woods, she says the bite still found her—and the impact was life-altering.

Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, is a condition in which individuals develop an allergic reaction to a carbohydrate called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose—commonly referred to as alpha-gal. This carbohydrate is found in all mammal meat except for primates, meaning those with AGS must avoid foods like beef, pork, venison, and other game such as elk, bear, and squirrel.

For Strother, a lifelong hunter and wild game cook, being unable to consume mammal meat came as a shock. “Realizing that I could no longer consume venison or other mammal meat was a hard pill to swallow,” she said.

Dr. Jonathan Mozena, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, explains that alpha-gal syndrome is unusual because it’s an allergy to a carbohydrate, not a protein like most food allergies. The condition is also delayed—reactions often occur four to eight hours after eating, rather than immediately.

According to Dr. Mozena, the delay likely occurs because fatty tissue in meat, where alpha-gal is concentrated, is absorbed through the lymphatic system before entering the bloodstream. Once in the system, it can trigger symptoms ranging from hives, itching, and gastrointestinal distress to chest tightness, dizziness, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.

While it was originally believed that ticks transmitted alpha-gal after feeding on mammals, new research suggests ticks may produce alpha-gal-like molecules themselves. The lone star tick is currently the most commonly associated species with AGS in the United States, although other ticks and even chiggers have been identified in studies as possible carriers.

Fortunately, not every person bitten by a tick develops AGS. “There are millions of tick bites each year, but not millions of cases,” said Mozena. He believes genetic predisposition plays a major role in whether or not an individual develops the allergy. He currently treats 40 to 50 AGS patients per year.

Central Virginia hunter Randy Feehan also contracted AGS following a tick bite during a deer hunt here on the Eastern Shore. His reaction began about a week after the bite. “I would break out in hives, wheeze, and my eyes would get really swollen,” Feehan said. The allergy, which he has lived with for nearly a decade, forced him to change his hunting focus.

“Not being able to eat wild game was big for me, because I wasn’t able to eat what I was hunting,” he said. Since then, Feehan has focused more on turkey and bird hunting, which do not pose the same dietary risks. He also continues to hunt deer to provide meat for others. Feehan’s father and uncle have also been diagnosed with AGS.

The condition may diminish over time if further tick bites are avoided. Dr. Mozena notes that alpha-gal levels in the blood often drop over time, and some patients are able to reintroduce mammal meat into their diet if they remain tick-free for extended periods.

While there is no cure or formal treatment for AGS at this time, awareness and prevention are key. Some have reported success using acupuncture to treat it. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to apply tick repellents, treat their clothing with permethrin (following safety guidelines), and thoroughly check for ticks after time in the field.

For those spending time in Virginia’s woods this season, prevention may be the best defense. Otherwise, that next tick bite could mean more than an itch—it could mean a permanent change to what ends up on your dinner plate.