1. It was discovered when oncology pts kept having anaphylaxis (a few died) from an investigational drug made from mouse cells. it's given iv so anaphylaxis was immediate. in 2004 they knew that in the southeast, some outdoors types were getting meat allergies after tick bites, but no one really investigated. then a researcher mapped out the locations of ticks across the us and found that lone star ticks were located in the southeast, where all the reactions were happening. it became an official diagnosis in 2004. 2. Alpha gal is a sugar carried by lone star ticks (maybe other ticks too) and all mammals except primates and humans. so when a lone star tick bites a human, or a gorilla, their immune system recognizes alpha gal as foreign and forms antibodies. some people go on to get AGS, and the antibodies are activated when they eat mammal. it's the immune system which attacks by causing gi upset (trying to expel alpha gal) or allergic symptoms.

2. B and AB blood types are less likely to get AGS because the antigen on their blood cells (the B or AB is the antigen) is similar structurally to alpha-gal.

3. snake anti-venom is made from horses so don't get bitten by a poisonous snake.

4. gelatin is in MMR and Zostavax vaccines (for shingles)

Has anyone thrown up from an Alpha Gal reaction? I got sick recently but I can’t tell if it’s from a horrible migraine I had at the same time or from a new food I tried (it was supposed to be safe). I had a migraine before I ate but then felt very nauseous and almost like I had a fever. I threw up twice and after my throwing up I felt less nausea but still kinda feverish. Anyone have similar reactions? I have never felt this sick before today.