One Health Interactions of Chagas Disease Vectors, Canid Hosts, and Human Residents along the Texas-Mexico Border.

One Health Interactions of Chagas Disease Vectors, Canid Hosts, and Human Residents along the Texas-Mexico Border.

Blog Article

BACKGROUND:Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) is the leading cause of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in Latin America.Texas, particularly the southern region, has compounding factors that could contribute to T.cruzi transmission; however, epidemiologic studies are lacking.The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of T.

cruzi in three different mammalian species (coyotes, stray domestic dogs, 3 Piece Twin Panel Bed and humans) and vectors (Triatoma species) to understand the burden of Chagas disease among sylvatic, peridomestic, and domestic cycles.METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:To determine prevalence of infection, we tested sera from coyotes, stray domestic dogs housed in public shelters, and residents participating in related research studies and found 8%, 3.8%, and 0.36% positive for T.

cruzi, respectively.PCR was used to determine the prevalence of T.cruzi DNA in vectors collected in peridomestic locations in the region, with 56.5% testing positive for the parasite, further confirming risk of transmission in the region.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Our findings contribute to the growing body of evidence for autochthonous Chagas disease transmission in south Texas.Considering this region has a population of 1.3 million, and up to Pulse Spacer 30% of T.cruzi infected individuals developing severe cardiac disease, it is imperative that we identify high risk groups for surveillance and treatment purposes.