Ticks are a common risk for Pennsylvania outdoorsmen. Statistically, the Keystone State is one of the highest-risk states when it comes to both ticks and Lyme disease. However, as if that were not enough, there is a new tick, the Lone Star tick. With it comes a new disease threat as well, because it would not be Pennsylvania if a new pest did not come with a new threat.

WHAT IS THE LONE STAR TICK?

Despite its name, Texas is not to blame for the Lone Star Tick invasion. Originally found throughout the Midwest, it gets its name due to a single white dot, or star, on its back. Over the past few years, the range has expanded south to Mexico and northern South America, and east from Maine to Florida, with some sightings being reported in southern Canada. Unfortunately, this includes Pennsylvania and our neighboring states.

DISEASE TRANSMISSION

It should come as no surprise that ticks carry a severe risk of disease transmission. After all, unlike most biting insects, a tick does not bite and move on. A tick bites, burrows into the skin, and stays in place to feed. Over the next several hours, or even days, the tick will feed on its host, gorging itself until it is fully engorged and filled with blood. Due to the direct connection with the host’s blood supply and the extended connection, disease transmission is a common risk associated with any tick bite.

The Lone Star tick is different. Not only does a bite carry a risk of disease transmission, but several different diseases are also possible outcomes from such a bite, including Bourbon virus disease, ehrlichiosis, heartland virus disease, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) and tularemia.

Fortunately, the Lone Star tick is not known to be associated with Lyme disease. However, there is one more affliction that it is known to host, one that is very concerning to outdoorsmen: Alpha-gal syndrome, also known as the red meat allergy.

NO RED MEAT

Alpha-gal Syndrome, also known as the red meat disease, is a severe allergic reaction usually caused by being bitten by an infected tick, including the Lone Star tick. The result, as the nickname suggests, is a food allergy associated with red meat. The disease has also been associated with the Blacklegged tick (USA), Cayenne tick (Central America), and the Asian Longhorned tick (Asia).

Unlike Lyme disease, Alpha-gal Syndrome does not come with a warning, such as a bright red target around the bite area. Infected individuals usually do not notice a problem until they ingest meat or associated animal products. Even then, the symptoms may not develop for several hours, which experts attribute to the body’s slower digestive process for such food. Symptoms vary depending on the severity and can include some or all of the following: itchy skin; flushing of the skin; hives; swelling of your lips, eyelids, throat, or face; abdominal pain; diarrhea; heartburn; indigestion; muscle cramps; nausea or vomiting; cough; shortness of breath; wheezing, anaphylaxis shock; arthritis; heart palpitations and low blood pressure.

Sounds like a lot of fun. However, it gets worse, because the symptoms can change over time. Additional tick bites can also result in more frequent or severe symptoms. Additionally, although a blood test can confirm the presence of Alpha-gel syndrome, there is no cure; only management is available.

As with other ticks, the best course of action is to avoid being bitten. This is accomplished by avoiding wooded or grassy areas, which is not an option for outdoorsmen. If you will be in high-threat locations, cover up, use insect repellents, check for ticks upon returning, and remove any ticks immediately.