Lec 25 - current issues in endemic and emerging diseases

Question 1

monkey pox?

Question 2

what is alpha-gal syndrome

Answer 2

a serious food allergy to red meat. It occurs most often in adults bitten by certain types of ticks. symptoms range from mild to severe and can vary over time. treatment involved avoiding triggers and managing symptoms

Question 3

who does alpha gal affect

Answer 3

occurs in people of all age groups
- no known genetic predisposition

Question 4

what percent of vector borne diseases in the us are mediated by ticks

Answer 4

77%

Question 5

explain the pathogenesis of AGS

Answer 5

alpha-gal is a disaccharide sugar found in all mammals
- not denatured by high cooking temps
- not found in monkeys and humans
(humans develop antibodies aganist A-g)

during feeding, tick salivary secretions modulate host immunity and inoculate pathogens and antigens (A-g)
- unclear how A-g is expressed or acquired in the host

triggers life-threatening IgE - mediated hypersensitivity
— 3-6 hours following ingestion (which confounds diagnosis)

Question 6

With AGS what is it called when symptoms start at least 2 hours post- meal (usually 3-5 hours)

Answer 6

delayed anaphylaxis

Question 7

what is the geographic distribution of the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum)

Answer 7

east coast to part of Texas
— the geographic dist of alpha-gal is very similar
- see photos

Question 8

what states had the highest number of alpha gal positive tests

Answer 8

Arkansas, Virginia, ky, Oklahoma and Missouri

Question 9

of the people tested what percent were male and what percent were female

Answer 9

43% make
26% female

Question 10

what is the treatment and preventions for alpha gal

Answer 10

no specific treatment of cure

• no real preventions other than tick avoidance

Question 11

t/f AGS is currently thought to be a life long syndrome

Answer 11

true

Question 12

what needs to be avoided to prevent allergic reaction after contracting AGS

Answer 12

beef, pork, lamb, horse, goat, rabbit, squirrel (includes organs)

lard, suet, gelatin, dairy products

certain drugs, vaccines, supplements
- anti-cancer drugs
- cardiovascular diseases drugs
- many new monoclonal antibody drugs

avoid all ticks

Question 13

were their anti-vaxers against the polio vaccine

Answer 13

yes in the 1950’s

Question 14

where has polio started to resurge

Answer 14

In Gaza - they recorded their first polio case in 25 years