The parasitic disease, Chagas disease, and the vector, the kissing bug, have been in US media a lot recently after the CDC published an MMWR about finding the bug in Delaware.

My guest today is currently conducting survey work in Oklahoma to estimate the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in domestic dogs and kissing bugs within the state.

Joining me to talk about Chagas disease, the kissing bug and her survey in Oklahoma is Kelly Allen,Ph.D. Dr Allen is an assistant professor of veterinary parasitology at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

OSU Kissing Bug Research

 

T-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise featuring the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi
To see the whole set of T. cruzi merchandise go to Chagas in Black and White

 

Image/James Gathany (CDC)

Related podcasts:

Hansen’s Disease, or leprosy in the US

Legionnaires’ disease and Legionella, Part One

Everything you wanted to know about rabies

Raccoon roundworm: The rare and potentially lethal zoonosis

Powassan virus: The spread is inevitable

Can kids be too clean? An interview with ‘Let Them Eat Dirt’ coauthor, B. Brett Finlay, PhD

The story behind the Toxic Shock Syndrome outbreak investigation of the late 70s-early 80s

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other prion diseases

Coyote tapeworm in Alberta: 5th human case reported



Intro music: “Rapture” by Ross Bugden