Alpha-gal syndrome is primarily caused by what?

Alpha-gal syndrome is primarily caused by insect bites, specifically bites from ticks, such as the lone star tick. This syndrome is a type of allergy to a carbohydrate called alpha-gal, which is found in the meat of mammals. After a person is bitten by an infected tick, they may develop sensitization to alpha-gal, leading to allergic reactions after consuming red meat or other mammalian products.

This connection between tick bites and the development of alpha-gal syndrome emphasizes the role of specific environmental factors—namely, the saliva of certain ticks—in triggering an immune response to substances that are otherwise harmless. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the unusual yet significant way in which an insect bite can lead to a food allergy, placing emphasis on the ecological and biological interactions involved in the development of this syndrome.