A kissing bug carrying T. cruzi bites a dog for a blood meal. The parasite enters the bloodstream and is carried to heart tissue where it replicates. Triatomine insects, also known as “kissing bugs,”
T. cruzi lifecycle
Chagas Disease
carry Chagas. More than 60% of insects are infected with T. cruzi. Animal reservoirs include dogs, opossums, raccoons, cats, and other mammals.
T. cruzi has long been endemic to the southern U.S. Only recently have veterinarians and researchers across the country become aware of T. cruzi, infected vectors, and infected animals. Chagas disease is prevalent in 30 U.S. states, putting at least 34.9 million dogs at high risk of infection.
Chagas disease is more prevalent than heartworm, tick-borne diseases, and intestinal parasites. In the U.S. alone, an average of 12.7% of dogs are infected with Chagas, compared to:
| Heartworm | 1.15% (2022 entire US. prevalence) |
| Roundworms | 1.55% (2022 entire US. prevalence) |
| Lyme disease | 3.74% (2022 entire US. prevalence) |
| Hookworms | 4.08% (2022 Texas prevalence) |
| Whipworms | 0.43% (2022 Texas prevalence) |
| Giardia | 4.95% (2022 Texas prevalence) |
Chagas disease causes severe heart failure in dogs.
It has an acute phase and a chronic phase, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the heart. This results in arrhythmias, myocardial dysfunction, and heart failure. Death can occur at any stage of the disease. Dogs less than a year old tend to develop serious, sudden cases of heart failure, while older dogs will develop heart disease if they do not die suddenly.
Currently, there is no USDA-approved diagnostic test to identify Chagas disease in animals. We are the first to develop an easy-to-use Chagas diagnostic test that will be USDA-approved. Today, a veterinarian will perform a complete blood profile, urinalysis, serology, and electrolyte panel to identify possible parasite infection. The examination might also include an echocardiogram, ultrasound, or radiograph to look for signs of heart and pulmonary disease.
If you live in an area that is not prone to kissing bugs, your veterinarian might not be familiar with Chagas disease in dogs. If you have reason to suspect exposure to kissing bugs or Chagas-infected wildlife, be sure to provide details of the possible exposure.
Vida Pharmacal is developing a treatment for Chagas disease in dogs and cats. The therapeutic has been tested exensively in dogs, cats, non-human primates, and marine mammals. Drug development is moving forward rapidly and will be submitted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for veterinary use.
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