"We have seen anaphylaxis in France with horse and goat meat as well, " Platts-Mills said.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

Platts-Mills and Commins said the allergic reaction is specifically related to the common lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum).

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

Platts-Mills, who also suffers from alpha-gal, made the connection after receiving countless bites while hiking in the woods one August.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

"The answer to the allergy is sugar, " said Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, who discovered the allergy with his junior colleague Dr. Scott Commins.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

That is when Platts-Mills concluded there is some relation to the number of tick bites one receives and how allergic one may become to alpha-gal.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy

"Presumably something happened with the ticks, " said Platts-Mills.

CNN: Ticks causing mysterious meat allergy