Coming to a tick or chigger near you

By Margi Jenks

One of the benefits of working as a park interpreter here at the Crater of Diamonds State Park is my connection to the network of park interpreters throughout Arkansas and the country. Recently I received an email from one of the Devil’s Den State Park interpreters concerning a recently discovered illness/condition carried by ticks and chiggers in Arkansas and other southeastern states.  It goes by the rather odd name of “mammalian meat allergy”.

Most tick and chigger-borne illnesses cause illnesses, with chills and fever, aches and pains, and a rash.  Researchers and doctors have recently figured out that some tick or chigger bites can instead set off a chemical chain reaction in the body.  This chain has quite a long sequence with lots of unfamiliar scientific words.  However, the bottom line is that it causes the person with the tick or chigger bite to have an allergic reaction to several of the usual meats that we eat in our diets, specifically beef, pork, lamb, venison, goat and bison.  All of these meats come from animals that are mammals, which is the reason for the odd sounding name.  So, eating many other meats, like chicken, turkey, fish and shellfish, doesn’t set off the reaction because these meats come from non-mammalian animals. 

The affected person usually comes down with the classic allergy symptoms of hives, itching, and in the worst case, sudden swelling of the lips, throat, and tongue, causing difficulty breathing and then unconsciousness.  The difference between this reaction and the common food allergy reaction is that the mammalian meat allergy reaction is usually delayed and doesn’t start for several hours after the person eats the mammal meat.  Also, the sufferer may only react to one type of mammal meat, like beef, and be fine with pork or lamb. 

Another difference is that some people have other symptoms, like abdominal cramping and pain, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.  Women have even had uterine cramps and spotting.  In fact, during some severe cases people have passed out while having diarrhea.  Fortunately, as time goes on from the initial bug bite, the allergic reaction can fade or completely go away.

I hope that this information does not make you feel afraid to visit the diamond mine or any other Arkansas state park.  A little bit of prevention will keep you safe.  However, I hope that this new information may explain some vague symptoms, which have been puzzling you and your doctor.  Finally, it is good to know another possible cause if you are so unfortunate as to develop the allergy to mammalian meat.  For answers to frequently asked questions visit http://allergytomeat.wordpress.com/frequently-asked-questions/.

I have always enjoyed being outside, but I have found that taking some simple prevention and after-care steps generally keep me tick and chigger free.  During the summers I avoid going into the woods, sitting on the grass or under trees, and even mowing the lawn without applying insect repellent containing a high percentage of the chemical DEET.  If I don’t manage to apply the repellent, I take a shower as soon as possible after coming indoors.  In my experience, especially the chiggers don’t take very long to start down their thing on my skin. Since I can’t feel and brush them off, washing them off is the best way to avoid several weeks of itching. 

This winter, because of our many warm days up into the 60’s, I have found ticks on my pets in November, December, and so far in January.  So, our short cold snaps this winter may not be enough to send them into hibernation, as the usual extended cold winter weather will do.  So, bring along the insect repellent and enjoy a tick and chigger free visit to the diamond mine.

Search area last plowed:  Field is recently plowed; Most recent significant rainstorms: 3” total January 8 & 9, 2014

Total diamonds found in 2014: 12

Diamonds registered for January 19-January 25, 2014 (100 points = 1 carat): 

January 19 - No diamonds were registered

January 20 - Matias Tong, Flushing, NY, 12 pt. white; Susan Newman, Jacksonville, AR, 37 pt. white

January 21 - Natsuyo Ishinoda, Tokyo, Japan, 5 pt. brown

January 22 - Lewis Allen, Branson, MO, 12 pt. white; Natsuyo Ishinoda &Daiju Ura, Tokyo, Japan

January 23 & 24 - No diamonds were registered