The Prevalence of Alpha-Gal IgE among Patients with Confirmed Lyme Serology Result.

INTRODUCTION

Given the significant rise in the incidence of alpha-gal syndrome alongside the geographical expansion of ticks in recent years, it is crucial to conduct studies aimed at raising awareness particularly among patients with a history of, or current diagnosis of, Lyme disease, to improve their quality of life. Our study is unique in addressing this important intersection.

METHODS

Two groups composed of 200 residuals de-identified samples originally collected during the peak of tick activity season in Northeast Ohio were tested for alpha-gal IgE. The first group (n = 100) was from patients with Lyme IgG Western blot positive results, and the remainder were from healthy subjects only tested for immune status.

RESULTS

Of the 200 samples, 17 tested positive for α-Gal IgE: 15 from the Lyme-positive group and 2 from the control group. A Fisher's exact test showed strong statistical significance between the two groups (p = 0.0015).

CONCLUSION

Although alpha-gal syndrome had been previously associated with a history of American lone start tick bite, this study for the first time in North America shows a possible association between α-Gal IgE positivity and exposure to Ixodes ticks. This is of paramount importance given the vast prevalence of Ixodes ticks especially in areas where the American lone start ticks are scarce.