BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – A recent study by Texas A&M researchers found that Chagas disease is unlikely to be transmitted to people through bats here in Texas.
The main cause of Chagas disease is an insect called the assassin bug.
Dr. Sarah Hammer and doctoral student Ilana Mosley, who conducted the study at Texas A&M College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, joined First News at Four on Tuesday to share details of their research.
“Chagas disease is an infectious disease, most commonly spread through assassin bugs and assassin bugs, and known to affect several different mammalian species. It is widely distributed throughout Latin America, but currently It is also widely distributed in the southern United States,” Mosley explained.
The study looked at Mexican freetail bats that live in our region, but no disease-causing parasites were detected, leading authorities to believe the bats are not part of the spread to the southern United States. I am. However, assassin bugs, which are disease-carrying insects, are found here in the Brazos Valley.
“In fact, there are about 10 species of assassin bugs in Texas. These bugs act as vectors for the Chagas pathogen, so they can kill humans as well as wild animals and animals such as dogs. They can make you pretty sick. But they’re part of our environment,” Dr. Hammer said.
Bats are unlikely to be the culprit, so the next step in research is to study the insects themselves and the parasites they carry.
“We’re doing research to figure out where the main wildlife habitats are. Raccoons are highly contagious. Possums, wall rats. So what creatures in nature are responsible for these? We’re trying to figure out whether they’re feeding the bugs,” Dr. Hammer added.
Click this link to learn more about assassin bugs and Chagas disease from Texas A&M. You can also submit your own samples.
Copyright 2024 KBTX. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
