http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease
The primary wildlife reservoirs for *Trypanosoma cruzi* in the United States include opossums <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opossum>, raccoons<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccoon>, *armadillos <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillo>*, squirrels<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel>, woodrats <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrat> and mice<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mice> .[37] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Karsten92-36>Opossums are particularly important as reservoirs, because the parasite can complete its life cycle in the anal glands of the animal without having to re-enter the insect vector.[37]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Karsten92-36>Recorded prevalence of the disease in opossums in the U.S. ranges from 8.3% [37] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Karsten92-36>to 37.5%. [38] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Barr91-37> Studies on raccoons in the Southeast have yielded infection rates ranging from 47%[39] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-38> to as low as 15.5%.[37]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Karsten92-36>Armadillo prevalence studies have been described in Louisiana, and range from a low of 1.1%[38]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-Barr91-37>to 28.8%. [40] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-39>Additionally, small rodents, including squirrels, mice and rats, are important in the sylvatic transmission cycle because of their importance as bloodmeal sources for the insect vectors. A Texas study revealed 17.3% percent *T. cruzi* prevalence in 75 specimens representing four separate small rodent species.[41]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease#cite_note-40> On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 10:17 AM, Linda Palit <linda.k.pa...@gmail.com>wrote: > I regularly have these bugs on my back porch. Maybe I wil > Collect them when they show up this year. It is usually August. > > > On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, David Ochel wrote: > >> >> >> ----- Forwarded message from gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org ----- >> Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:20:36 -0500 >> From: Geary Schindel <gschin...@edwardsaquifer.org> >> Subject: FW: Study of kissing bugs for Chagus parasites in Texas. >> To: 'David Ochel' <d...@ochel.net> >> >> David, >> >> I'm having a problem as this message keeps getting bounced to Texas >> Cavers. Can you post it for me. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Geary >> >> >> >> I tried to send this out last week but I think it got bounced. >> >> Geary >> >> Folks, >> >> Two medical researchers at Baylor University (Dr. Hotez and Dr. Murray) >> are interested in studying Triatomine Bugs (Kissing bug/Cone-nose >> Bug/Vinchuca) for Trypanosama cruzi. This is the parasite that causes >> Chagus Disease in dogs and humans. There is some discussion in the medical >> field whether Chagus has been transmitted to humans south Texas or whether >> most of the Chagus causes are representative of folks immigrating in from >> down south. It has certainly been present in dogs and has resulted in a >> number of deaths in dogs. This is a pretty nasty disease and I've been told >> is responsible for about half of the heart transplant needs in Central and >> South America. It causes all kinds of other health issues also. >> >> Anyway, the kissing bug is pretty common in south central Texas and I >> caught four of them in the Deep Cabin last weekend. One had taken a blood >> meal (not good). They were shipped off for testing. I've also seen two >> bites on the Deep and Punkin Nature preserve property for kissing bugs. >> The researchers are asking for folks to collect kissing bugs and submit >> them for testing. Since cavers are commonly out and about and have their >> nose to the ground, I thought I would ask if anyone is interesting in >> helping with the study. All you have to do is collect the bugs, fill out a >> short form, and send it in to the research along with the bug. Here are >> two links on Chagus. The bug can be dead or alive but not smushed. The >> links also include some pictures of the bug as they are around an inch or >> less long and have a real pointy nose. Maybe we should rethink sleeping >> out without a tent or netting. >> >> If you would like to participate, please send me an email and I'll send >> you the address and other information. >> >> >> http://www.**allaboutchagasdisease.com/<http://www.allaboutchagasdisease.com/> >> >> http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/**chagas/<http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/> >> >> Thanks, >> >> Geary Schindel >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ----- End forwarded message ----- >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------**------------------------------**--------- >> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com >> To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com >> For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com >> >>
