Can I get Chagas from my dog?

Does Chagas disease affect humans? Chagas disease can affect humans if they encounter infected insects. However, there have not been any reported cases of dog-to-insect-to-human transmission of Chagas disease within the United States.

How is Chagas disease transmitted to humans?

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Infection is most commonly spread through contact with the poop of an infected triatomine bug (or “kissing bug”), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals.

Can Chagas be cured in dogs?

Chagas Disease has no known cure, and because it can be transmitted easily to humans, dogs and cats who contract the parasite commonly are euthanized. However, some drugs have shown promise when administered in the acute stage of the disease.

How common is Chagas disease in dogs?

Although most infected dogs don't develop symptoms of the disease, testing has shown that about 8% of dogs in some areas may have been infected, and for dogs in high-risk situations, it can be up to 30-50% of dogs that have been infected.

How easy is it to get Chagas?

The person can become infected if T. cruzi parasites in the bug feces enter the body through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin. The unsuspecting, sleeping person may accidentally scratch or rub the feces into the bite wound, eyes, or mouth. Accidental laboratory exposure.

My Dog has Chagas Disease :-(

How do u know if u have Chagas disease?

Symptoms may include swelling at the infection site, fever, fatigue, body aches, rash and nausea.

How do you check for Chagas?

The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites.

Can you survive Chagas?

Many people may remain asymptomatic for life and never develop Chagas-related symptoms. However, an estimated 20–30% of infected people will develop severe and sometimes life-threatening medical problems over the course of their lives.

Should I be worried about Chagas disease?

Decades after being infected, about 30 percent of those who have Chagas develop serious health effects, including cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), heart failure, heart rhythm problems, and strokes. Less common are disorders that affect the digestive system.

Can you get rid of Chagas disease?

To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines are nearly 100% effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.

How do you test a dog for Chagas?

In living dogs, serologic testing is the primary method of diagnosing Chagas disease. Serologic testing uses a dog's serum to detect antibodies against T. cruzi. A positive antibody titer indicates a dog has been exposed to, and likely infected with, the parasite.

Is Chagas disease a concern in the US?

More than 5 million people worldwide have Chagas disease. In the United States, there are estimated to be at least 300,000 cases of chronic Chagas disease among people originally from countries of Latin America where Chagas disease is endemic.

What is the mortality rate of Chagas disease?

1 In the United States, more than 300,000 people are living with the disease. 300,000 living with Chagas in the U.S. Chagas disease causes approximately 10,000 deaths per year globally. Up to 30% of infected people develop symptoms.

How do you protect yourself from Chagas?

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease in dogs?

Chagas symptoms can appear within weeks of infection (acute) or months to years later (chronic). Typically, dogs that are younger than 2 years old are more likely to develop acute disease, with possible symptoms of diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, swollen lymph nodes, fluid retention, and heart failure.

What percentage of kissing bugs carry Chagas?

Scientists have found that about 50% of kissing bugs are infected with the Chagas parasite. Kissing bugs are a 'vector' because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick. The parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi, and it causes Chagas disease.

When should I get tested for Chagas disease?

Indications for Testing

Laboratory testing for Chagas disease is indicated in individuals who are at risk when clinical findings point to acute- or chronic-phase infection.

What states is the kissing bug found in?

Most of the world's kissing bugs are in Central and South America and Mexico. They've also been found in the United States in the lower 28 states, with higher concentrations in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Kissing bugs have been spotted a far north as Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Do all kissing bugs carry Chagas?

Kissing bugs can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can cause Chagas disease. It's important to know that not all kissing bugs are infected with the parasite, and the likelihood of contracting Chagas disease is low.

How prevalent is Chagas disease in the US?

In the Americas, Chagas disease show an annual incidence of 30,000 new cases average, 12,000 deaths per year, and 8,600 newborns become infected during gestation. It is estimated that around 70 million people in the Americas live in areas of exposure and are at risk of contracting this disease.

Is Chagas disease an STD?

Conclusions: Evidence that Chagas disease can be transmitted sexually, coupled with the migration of individuals with Chagas disease to previously non-endemic countries and increased travel to endemic countries, has implications for public health.

Who is most at risk for Chagas?

Anyone exposed to the feces or urine of an infected kissing bug (triatomine) can develop Chagas disease. The infection is most common in rural or impoverished continental South America, Mexico and Central America.

How much is a Chagas test?

Results: The cost of Chagas' disease test in the blood bank of Seccional Bolívar was COP$ 37,804 (USD$ 12), and the blood bag and immunohematology test costs were COP$ 25,941 (USD$ 8.2) and COP$ 6,800 (USD$ 2.2), respectively.

Does Chagas need to be treated?

Treatment for Chagas disease is recommended for people diagnosed early in the course of infection (acute phase), babies with congenital infection, and for those with suppressed immune systems. Many patients with chronic infection may also benefit from treatment.