By: Timothy Wanninger
The Hamer lab studies emerging zoonotic infections, including Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease.
Although T. cruzi is recognized for causing human infections in Latin America, this parasite also causes disease in both animals and people in the United States, especially in the southern states. Despite the recognition of T. cruzi as endemic in
this region, the primary burden of infection in the region.
Rachel Busselman, a DVM/PhD student, and her mentor, Dr. Sarah Hamer, DVM, PhD, are working hard to understand these dynamics through their research on Chagas disease in animals, including domestic
animals, in the United States.
To further their understanding of Chagas disease in animals, Rachel recently authored a review article,
published in Annual Reviews in Animal Biosciences, on the interaction between T. cruzi and animals in the United States. Triatomine insects (Kissing bugs) are found across 27 states. These include Texas, which has the highest triatomine species diversity,
as well as Nebraska and Delaware, where these insects were newly identified. A key difference between Chagas disease in the United States, compared to Latin America, is that infestation of homes by Kissing bugs is less common. While human cases do
occur, infection of animals, including domestic animals, is more frequent. Rodents and domestic dogs, common bloodmeal sources for triatomines, may play a key role in maintenance of these vector populations. Development of effective integrated vector
management to control triatomine populations will require a One Health approach, combining efforts in the fields of ecology, entomology, public health, veterinary medicine, and community participation.
Rachel has first-hand experience with Chagas disease and its effects on the surrounding community. She has worked with dog owners and their animals during field studies, including her recent work quantifying the incidence of T. cruzi infection in dogs housed in multi-dog kennels in Texas. In addition, she has also collected and analyzed bugs from these sites
to identify the presence of T. cruzi. Not only does Rachel study these bug specimens in the lab, but the data are also entered into a community science database supported by the Hamer lab, called The Kissing Bug Community Science Program. The database uses a mobile app to assist with the submission, identification, and testing of bugs sent in by members of the public. The
findings are shared via an interactive map.
One of Rachel’s driving motivations is “giving back” to the communities where she works. For example, she hopes that her review paper will allow researchers to develop ways to better address and prevent Chagas infections, including how
strategies effective for addressing Chagas disease in Latin America might be applied in the United States.