Abstract

Background: Tick bite-induced IgE-mediated reactions to the oligosaccharide galactose α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) are increasingly recognized. This study investigated alpha-gal sensitization in three groups with different tick bite exposure. Materials and methods: Specific IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and total IgE were investigated in 485 patients with Lyme borreliosis with different disease manifestations and compared to a control group of 200 randomly selected patients without increased exposure to tick bites. A group of 232 hunters and forest workers served as a model for multiple tick bites. Results: Specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies to alpha-gal (> 0.1 kU/L) were found in 12.6% of all borreliosis samples compared to the control group with 9% (relative risk 1.4; 95% CI 0.85 – 2.3; not significant (n.s.). The highest prevalence of sIgE to alpha-gal was observed in hunters and forest service employees (22.8%, relative risk 2.5; 95% CI 1.5 – 4.2; p < 0.001). Higher age and elevated total IgE were also associated with alpha-gal sensitization. Conclusion: IgE sensitization to alpha-gal tends to be more frequent in tick-exposed patients with borreliosis than in controls (n.s.). Moreover, hunters and forest workers show an even higher rate of elevated IgE to alpha-gal. Thus, frequent tick contact may result in alpha-gal sensitization. In the area of Munich, the prevalence of alpha-gal sensitization appears lower than in the state of Baden-Württemberg and lower than in the USA, which may be due to the difference in tick species or the frequency of tick exposure. This study could show that alpha-gal sensitization and presumably alpha-gal syndrome does not seem to be a modern problem but existed already more than 30 years ago.

Author Details

Authors

• Marie Benders-Guedj
• Martin Köberle
• Heidelore Hofmann
• Tilo Biedermann
• Ulf Darsow

Departments

• Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Address

Prof. Dr. U. Darsow, Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Biedersteiner Str. 29, 80802 Munich, Germany
Email: [email protected]

Citation