A One Health Approach to Alpha-gal Syndrome: Integrating Climate Science, Tick Ecology, and Public Health Interventions in the Southern United States

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an emerging tick-borne allergic condition primarily triggered by bites from the Lone Star tick, resulting in delayed hypersensitivity reactions following the consumption of red meat. With rising temperatures and changing humidity levels due to climate change, tick habitats are spreading across the Southern United States, heightening the risk of AGS exposure. However, limited awareness of the syndrome in the community and among clinicians leads to delayed diagnoses, which hinders effective AGS management and prevention. This research adopts a One Health framework to investigate the ecological, climatic, and epidemiological factors contributing to the rise of AGS. This study will quantify and spatially map AGS cases to environmental changes through secondary analysis of regional health records. By correlating health data with climate and ecological trends, the research will identify key drivers behind the expansion of tick populations and the increase in AGS incidence. Key objectives of this study include evaluating AGS prevalence, developing predictive models for future AGS hotspots based on climate projections, and assessing community-based interventions to enhance public and clinical awareness. The findings will inform public health policies to improve early diagnosis and risk reduction, focusing on fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among public health officials, ecologists, and climate scientists. This research aims to improve our understanding of AGS in the context of climate change, ultimately enhancing prevention, management strategies, and preparedness in affected regions. By identifying critical ecological and climatic factors that influence AGS, this study will contribute to more targeted public health interventions and educational initiatives designed to mitigate the impact of AGS in a rapidly changing environmental landscape.