Study Reveals Challenges of Alpha-Gal Syndrome for Farmers

By Scout Nelson

The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s (UNMC) Shaun Cross, PhD, has published the first peer-reviewed study examining how alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a tickborne allergy to red meat, affects farmers and ranchers. The research appeared in the Journal of Agromedicine.

Cross, an Assistant Professor in UNMC’s Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health within the College of Public Health, surveyed more than 200 farmers and ranchers across 26 states. The study explored participants’ experiences with tick bites, awareness of AGS, symptoms, and challenges in receiving a diagnosis.

Findings showed that participants visited healthcare providers an average of three times before receiving an AGS diagnosis, while some required more than 10 visits. General practitioners and allergists were the most common providers to identify the condition. Researchers also classified participants into four symptom groups and found that symptoms could vary by sex.

“The purpose of this survey was to understand how this emerging allergy was impacting the farming and ranching community members with AGS by asking them questions about their work, their physical health and their mental health,” Dr. Cross said. “We received great feedback and are excited to share this information across a series of publications and stories.”

AGS is primarily transmitted in the United States through bites from the lone star tick. Its geographic range has expanded beyond the Southeast into regions with previously colder climates.

Most study participants were from Missouri and Oklahoma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 500,000 Americans are estimated to have the condition.

For agricultural workers who regularly handle livestock and spend time outdoors, AGS can create significant occupational challenges. Researchers heard accounts of individuals hiring additional workers, discontinuing livestock operations, or leaving agriculture entirely.

“The idea of a person shutting down a farm that’s been in their family for generations because of this new diagnosis, I can only imagine what that feels like,” Dr. Cross said. “That has to be devastating.”

Cross presented the findings at the National Convening on a National Strategy for Alpha-gal Syndrome, hosted by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) in Washington, D.C., on October 27-28, 2026.

“Farmers and ranchers are at an increased risk of exposure to ticks from working outdoors,” Dr. Cross said. “It’s crucial that healthcare providers, especially those in rural areas, are better equipped to recognize AGS symptoms and understand the unique occupational implications for these individuals.”

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