Fire Ants Reduce Red Meat Allergies

Andrew Engler, MD, has more than three decades of experience treating asthma, allergies, and other related conditions. The medical director of the Allergy and Asthma Clinic in San Mateo, California, Dr. Andrew Engler is also a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

A recent study conducted by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) has concluded that the presence of invasive fire ants in some states can reduce the number of cases of red meat allergy. Texas and the Gulf of Mexico region have a lower than average occurrence of alpha-gal syndrome, an allergic reaction to carbohydrate molecules found in red meat. Alpha-gal syndrome is known to be caused by the lone star tick, which is eaten and destroyed by fire-ants.

Based on data gathered from 87 allergy clinics, the study compared cases of fire ant anaphylaxis and alpha-gal syndrome. Researchers concluded that the more cases of fire ant anaphylaxis there were in any given region, the fewer cases of alpha-gal there were. The converse was also true, with more cases of alpha-gal syndrome in areas where fire ant anaphylaxis was less common.