Heartbroken Texas dog owner reveals that deadly ‘kissing bug’ killed her dog - as experts say cases are on the rise
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Becky Roche from Austin lost her Belgian Malinois dog, Ranger, to Tropical Chagas disease, which is spread by kissing bugs that feed around the mouth and deposit parasite-laden feces on their victims.
- Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, can lead to severe heart damage and failure in dogs, with symptoms ranging from lethargy and loss of appetite to difficulty breathing and neurological issues.
- The kissing bugs are prevalent in Texas, especially in areas like Austin and San Antonio, and are difficult to eradicate due to their ability to fly and inhabit gardens and woodlands.
- Treatment options for infected dogs are limited, as common anti-parasitic medications are ineffective against the parasite, and many infected dogs do not show symptoms until the disease is advanced.
- The disease is endemic from the southern United States to South America, with kissing bugs found in 29 U.S. states and about half of these insects carrying the parasite.
