Just had a dog diagnosed with asymptomatic chagas. He replaced a dog that probably died of chugs. I spray yard and dog runs with a pro every other month and hand spray kennels every other week. Now building a Florida room around by dog runs.
Keep the lights off at night watch for that kissing but guys.
http://kissingbug.tamu.edu/FAQ/

Yep, That reminds me, I need to spray mine. We lose too many dogs to chagas here in South Texas.

Seems like this has gotten worse the last few years.

Any preventative or treatment?

Not much--there is a vet in san antonio who has claimed some success. Lots of bad side effects with the standard drugs drugs for humans. There are some people who are working on vaccines. In humans 30 percent of those who test positive develop chronic chugs. Not known what the percentage is with dogs.

I have read the symptoms online, but what did you see that caused you to test the dog?

I have found the kissing bugs at my house this year.

Dog has heart worm--he apparently spit out a heart worm pill sometime ago. He can be a real knucklehead. Did a blood workup for the heart worm treatment and saw high live and kidney values. Had seen Chagas bugs in dog's yard , so on a hunch we tested for Chagas and he tested positive. Will begin an experimental chagas treatment after he is done with heart worm routine in 2 months. Apparently @ 30 percent of the people who test positive for exposure to the protozoa develop acute chagas. The vet who is doing the experimental treatment said out of 80 untreated dogs he studied 30 died. This is a dog with very high prey drive-- the vet said he believes a lot of dogs get chagas from actually ingesting the bug.

BTW -- when you encounter kissing bugs do not touch the bug. The protozoa can be ON the bug and you may accidentally expose yourself.

Mundo, where do you live??? I have lost puppies here in Menard County to Chagas. I absolutely hate the disease. It seems to be worse in South Texas than any other part of the state as I have buddies who have real problems with it down near Refugio.
Adios,
Gary

I live near San Benito in the Rio Grande Valley. We have a lease in Fowlerton--between Cotulla and Three Rivers. I've seen Chagas bug there also.

Chagas seems to be south of Austin. Kayenta Fuller is one of the top vets on this beetle
I believe my Manny dog died of this.

Robby

Here is a map showing risk of exposure:http://bugworksrgv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/kissing-bug-map.jpg
The bug has been found as far north as Colorado and Kansas, so their is a potential of the disease spreading that far north.

I killed 3 at my house this week.
See them all time in central texas

Found a kissing bug dead in one of the pups pens last night. Got to believe the pup killed it and most times they get the bugs they kill in their mouths. At the least stomp it with their feet. Got online and it seems the most infections come from the bug feces getting in the bite area. So maybe nothing will come of the contact. Called the vet to see what to spray around the kennel to kill the bast#rds and waiting on the call, in the mean time sprayed Home Defender all around the pens and houses. Hate it.

I'll have my kennels screened off with a tight door by the by early next week. Had to put beefier fans in runs to keep up circulation. Been quite a project but I see no alternative. i have a pro spray the yard and runs every other month and spray pyrethrin stall spray every other week in the runs. Don't leave lights on, try not to leave litter or dead fall near the kennels, and destroy any rat nests you find.

Apparently pack rats, coons and possums all can carry chagas protozoa.

.

all over state

Just finished adding to dog runs and screening off the runs. Will plug the gaps with foam next week. Since the bug is out after dark and the dogs are in their runs at night should work.
Also, took the opportunity to add some good fans for each kennel.

My vet requested I send the bug to A&M for positive id, it had the orange bars all around it's shell as in all the photos I've seen but not all that looks like one is one apparently. Of course I dispatched the bug so can't send it in.

other bugs have the stripes on the side, but they don't have the cone shaped nose
https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3008/
https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3008/
I sent some into A&M too. They were the chugs bug.
A&M vets school is doing a study to see how many of the bugs have the protozoa and developing maps....

Mundo I live near you in Harlingen. Ive seen them around my place too.