IgE to galactose-α-1,3-galactose wanes over time in patients who avoid tick bites

[...]as not all tick bites and not all tick species are thought to contribute to α-Gal sensitization, we were also interested in changes in α-Gal sIgE levels among subjects who reported tick bites. In addition to A. americanum, Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis are also present in this area, and these ticks have not been causally linked to α-Gal sensitization. [...]bites from D. variabilis or I. scapularis could explain why 23 subjects reported tick bites but nonetheless experienced a decrease in their α-Gal sIgE level. [...]the study was not designed to assess the clinical relevance of changes in α-Gal sIgE levels (ie, decrease in symptom severity or development of tolerance on oral exposure).