The α-gal Syndrome - Investigating Immune Reactions to Tick Bites
This study follows people who have been bitten by ticks to understand how their immune system reacts and builds antibodies in response. Researchers want to learn more about alpha-gal syndrome, a food allergy to mammalian meat that can develop after a tick bite.
Key Objective: This trial may help researchers better understand how tick bites trigger alpha-gal syndrome and could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options in the future.
Who to Consider: People who have been bitten by a tick within the past 48 hours and are willing to provide blood samples should consider enrolling in this study.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Tick bites can transmit pathogens, but they can also induce a food allergy to mammalian meat. The goal of this clinical trial is to follow immune response and antibody build-up in individuals bitten by a tick. Participants are invited to enroll within 48 hours after the tick removal and donate some blood. The tick is also collected and analysed. Researchers will then try to answer the following questions: * Was the tick infected with parasites? * Did the participant make antibodies against tick proteins or tick-borne parasites? * Did the participant develop IgE antibodies against the alpha-Gal sugar? The alpha-Gal sugar is present on mammalian meat, and ticks can transmit the alpha-Gal sugar to the host during their blood meal. Humans recognize the alpha-Gal sugar as foreign and some individuals will build IgE antibodies in response. These IgE antibodies against alpha-Gal can lead to a food allergy to red meat, also known as alpha-Gal syndrome. Researchers will compare a group of participants that develop IgE against the alpha-Gal sugar with participants that will not. They want to find out if there are specific immune features that differentiate the 2 groups. Participants will: * Enroll after a recent tick bite within 48 hours after tick removal: they will be asked to donate some blood and fill out a questionnaire. * Visit the clinic 4 to 6 weeks later for a follow-up sample and questionnaire. * Visit the clinic 3 months after the tick bite for allergy tests if they have been selected for this 3rd visit.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Individuals aged ≥ 18 years, Male and Female. * Experience of a tick bite: the tick has been removed less than 48 hours ago, or the tick is still attached to the skin and can be removed on site by the study nurse. * Tick available for analysis. * Informed consent signed. Exclusion criteria: * Individuals \< 18 years of age, Male or Female. * Individuals with an acute viral/bacterial inflammation. * Individuals with an immune deficiency or under immunosuppressive treatments. * Individuals in receipt with immunotherapy with omalizumab. * Individuals with neurological diseases / impaired cognitive disorder.