Chagas disease is caused by a parasite and is spread by “kissing,” bugs. These insects become infected after biting an animal or person who has Chagas disease. The infected insects can spread the infection to other animals and people by depositing feces on the skin; the feces is then accidentally rubbed into the bite wound produced by the infected insect, an open cut, the eyes, or the mouth. The disease can also be acquired by eating an infected insect. Additionally, pet food and water bowls can be contaminated with feces from infected insects that, if ingested, may spread the disease. Chagas disease has been detected in dogs in Texas and several other states, including the neighboring states of Louisiana and Oklahoma.

There are three stages of infection: acute, latent, and chronic. Clinical signs in the acute stage include listlessness, lymphadenopathy, pale mucous membranes, and hepatosplenomegaly. Furthermore,sudden, unexplained death can occur, especially in puppies. The latent stage can be prolonged with the clinical signs appearing to regress. The chronic stage is marked with right-sided cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, ascites, pleural effusion, and hepatomegaly; it is often misdiagnosed as age-related chronic heart failure in elderly dogs. Survival time from the onset of disease varies greatly. The heart, upon postmortem examination, can be enlarged and show multiple white streaks or spots as a result of the damage done by the parasite.

More information: kissingbug.tamu.edu