A collaborative effort between Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia (UGA) is set to advance the fight against Chagas disease, thanks to over $4 million in funding from federal and non-governmental organizations. The research will focus on understanding the prevalence of the disease, improving diagnostic methods, and developing more effective treatments for both canines and humans.

Understanding Chagas Disease

Chagas disease, a tropical illness caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is primarily transmitted through the feces of triatomine bugs, frequently enough called kissing bugs as they bite hosts to feed on blood. The disease affects both humans and dogs and often goes undetected in its early stages. However, chronic infections can lead to severe heart and digestive system complications, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

Key Researchers Leading the Charge

The research projects are being spearheaded by leading experts in veterinary medicine and parasitology:

• Dr. Sarah Hamer, professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences.
• Dr. Ashley Saunders, professor and cardiologist in the VMBS’ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.
• Dr. Rick Tarleton, UGA Regents Professor and UGA Athletic Association Distinguished professor.

These projects will advance Chagas disease research to understand the process of natural infections, disease and effect of treatments. These projects combine many aspects of biomedical research. We’re conducting field and laboratory research, treating dogs, measuring clinical outcomes and studying ecological factors. It’s truly a ‘One health’ approach.

Dr. Sarah Hamer, Professor, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ (VMBS) Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences

Texas Dogs: A Vital Data Source

Texas has become a hotspot for Chagas disease, making privately owned and working dogs an invaluable source of data. These dogs frequently encounter kissing bugs, increasing their risk of infection.

According to Dr. Hamer, Unluckily, texas has emerged as a hotspot of infected kissing bugs, infected wildlife and infected dogs across the landscape.We think dogs are getting infected when they eat the insects.

Dr. Saunders added, Dogs that work in customs and border protection and for the Transportation security Governance can be exposed to Chagas disease. Some of our work will be a continuation of previous studies of the clinical impacts of the disease on canine cardiac health, as well as how the dogs are exposed to the parasite so we can definately help minimize their risk.

Advancing Human Health Through Canine Studies

While most human cases are reported in South and Central America and Mexico, the presence of kissing bugs in the southern U.S. poses a risk. The infection is notoriously challenging to detect and treat, making research crucial.

One project,funded by the National institutes of Health,aims to establish optimal protocols for detecting and treating the infection to prevent cardiac disease. Dr. Tarleton explained, There are a number of critically important questions related to treatment efficacy and the protection that cured subjects have from future infection that cannot be easily addressed in humans, but can be in these dog populations that are under intense transmission pressure in Texas.

Current diagnostic methods face challenges, including low parasite DNA levels and dormant parasites resistant to treatment. The new study will use sensitive tests to detect both parasite DNA and the body’s response to infection,combined with a modified antiparasitic drug regimen.

Because the disease presents similarly in dogs and humans, dogs serve as an effective model for studying treatment effectiveness. Furthermore,owners of infected dogs are highly motivated to support the research.

Dr. Saunders noted, The drug we’re using is an existing treatment for Chagas disease in humans. But Dr. Tarleton has shown that the parasites aren’t susceptible to this drug when they’re dormant. By changing the drug delivery protocol to dosing over a longer period of time, when the dormant parasites become active again, they are killed by the drug.

Dr. Hamer emphasized the unique aspect of the project: The project is unique because we are studying privately owned hunting dogs in large kennel environments that have, unfortunatly, become naturally infected with T. cruzi. Many of these owners have had other dogs die from the disease, so they want to help us solve the problem.

Protecting Government Working Dogs

Another project, funded by the United States department of Homeland Security (DHS), will monitor DHS-owned working dogs trained in areas where Chagas disease is prevalent. The goal is to understand how these dogs are exposed to the disease and its impact on their heart health.

Dr. heather Manley Lillibridge,executive director of Texas A&M’s Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense,is also involved in this project. Dr. Saunders explained, One of the reasons that monitoring dogs is so helpful is because Chagas disease can produce so many different subsets of health problems. Some dogs end up with a heart abnormality, but a large number continue living and working happily for many years. Others will die quite suddenly, before anyone knew they had the disease.

Dr. Hamer added, Recording health facts from such a large population of dogs will hopefully help us understand why the disease develops in different ways.

Government working dogs, trained to detect explosives or drugs, may acquire infections in the South and then be transported to other regions where awareness of the disease is limited.

Improving Canine Chagas Disease Management

A third project, supported by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, will focus on treating and monitoring pet dogs at Texas A&M’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital. The team aims to develop a staging system for Chagas disease in dogs.

Dr. Saunders stated, The staging system we develop will help us to categorize the severity of disease, making it easier to determine which dogs will benefit most from drug treatment. This scoring system will work hand-in-hand with our improved diagnostic and treatment plan.

These projects are part of ongoing efforts by Drs. Hamer, Saunders, and Tarleton to improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of Chagas disease. their Kissing Bug Community Science Program has been collecting and testing kissing bugs submitted from across the U.S. for over a decade.