Original Project Description:
Chagas disease is a deadly parasitic heart disease of dogs, humans, and other mammals. Chagas disease is a risk where ‘kissing bug’ insect vectors are located, including South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern United States. The risk of Chagas disease in dogs also extends to regions where dogs from the south may travel or be re-located, so dogs across the US may be at risk. However, tools to prevent and manage canine Chagas cases are lacking as there is no vaccine and no widely-validated antiparasitic treatments. The investigators have spent the past 8 years characterizing how natural infections impact the health of dogs, and how disease progresses in the absence of treatment. Given this baseline information, the team will develop and refine a canine Chagas disease scoring system to categorize the severity of the disease (measured by a panel of sensitive diagnostic tests and clinical assessments). This scoring system is a critical prerequisite for deploying new treatments.
Research Update 03334-MY1: Antiparasitic Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Dogs Across Different Stages of Disease for Clinical Cardiac Improvements – the 100-dog Study
Original Project Description:
Chagas disease is a deadly parasitic heart disease of dogs, humans, and other mammals. Chagas disease is a risk where ‘kissing bug’ insect vectors are located, including South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southern United States. The risk of Chagas disease in dogs also extends to regions where dogs from the south may travel or be re-located, so dogs across the US may be at risk. However, tools to prevent and manage canine Chagas cases are lacking as there is no vaccine and no widely-validated antiparasitic treatments. The investigators have spent the past 8 years characterizing how natural infections impact the health of dogs, and how disease progresses in the absence of treatment. Given this baseline information, the team will develop and refine a canine Chagas disease scoring system to categorize the severity of the disease (measured by a panel of sensitive diagnostic tests and clinical assessments). This scoring system is a critical prerequisite for deploying new treatments. Continue reading “Research Update 03334-MY1: Antiparasitic Treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected Dogs Across Different Stages of Disease for Clinical Cardiac Improvements – the 100-dog Study”