Our lab regularly publishes our research findings in peer-reviewed
scientific journals. "Peer-review" means that other scientists and experts
have critically reviewed our methods, findings, and conclusions and found
them to be well-done and trustworthy. Publishing in peer-reviewed journals
also ensures that our research findings will be permanently available to
future generations interested in understanding our lab's work. Here, we
have compiled a list of our current publications, including a brief
summary, as well as the link to the article.
Curtis-Robles R, Hamer SA, Lane S, Levy MZ, Hamer GL. 2018.
Bionomics and spatial distribution of triatomine vectors of
Trypanosoma cruzi in Texas, USA. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
98(1): 113-121.
We analyzed data from over 3200 kissing bugs submitted by citizens
from 2012-2016. Adult kissing bugs were most frequently collected
during the summer months (May-September). Different kissing bug
species were more likely to be found in different areas of Texas than
others.
Bryan LA, Hamer SA, Shaw S, Curtis-Robles R, Auckland LD, Hodo CL,
Chaffin K, Rech RR. 2016.
Chagas disease in a Texas horse with neurologic deficits. 216: 13-17.
We were involved in a study of a 10-year old Texas horse with
neurologic disease, which found the Chagas parasite in the spinal cord
of the horse. This was the first case study of Chagas disease in a
horse in the US.
Tenney, TD, Curtis-Robles R, Snowden KF, Hamer SA. 2014.
Shelter dogs as sentinels for Trypanosoma cruzi transmission
across Texas, USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 20(8): 1323-1326.
We tested high-risk shelter dogs from seven shelters across Texas. We
found that 8.8% of dogs had evidence of exposure to the Chagas disease
parasite, showing that dogs from diverse areas of Texas are at risk.
R Curtis-Robles, AC Meyers, LD Auckland, IB Zecca, R Skiles, SA Hamer.
2018.
Parasitic interactions among Trypanosoma cruzi, triatomine
vectors, domestic animals, and wildlife in Big Bend National Park
along the Texas-Mexico border. Acta Tropica. 188: 225-233.
We tested kissing bugs from in and around Big Bend National Park.
Adult kissing bugs were most frequently collected during April-June,
and 23% were infected. We found that bugs had fed on a variety of
blood sources, including dogs, feral hog, ringtail, woodrat, human,
and birds (including elf owl). Some dogs in the Park had evidence of
infection with T. cruzi.
Hodo CL, Wilkerson GK, Birkner EC, Gray SB, Hamer SA. 2018.
Trypanosoma cruzi transmission among captive nonhuman
primates, wildlife, and vectors. EcoHealth. 15:426-436.
We tracked Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rhesus macaques and
tested wildlife and kissing bugs found at and near a non-human primate
research facility in Texas. We found infection in opossums, raccoons,
and skunks, but not in rats or mice. Two different
T. cruzi strain types were found in macaques; one strain type
was found more commonly in opossums while the other was found more
commonly in raccoons. This research is important to understanding
T. cruzi infection in macaques (a model for human infection),
as well as ways to protect animals and people from infection.
Beatty NL, Behrens-Bradley N, Love M, McCants F, Smith S, Schmidt JO,
Hamer SA, Dorn PL, Ahmad N, Klotz SA. 2019.
Rapid detection of human blood in triatomines (kissing bugs)
utilizing a lateral flow immunochromatographic assay - A pilot
study. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 114: e190047.
This research tested a blood-detection test on kissing bug samples to
find out if kissing bugs had fed on people. The test worked for bugs
known to have fed on human blood and also detected human blood in
kissing bugs caught in California, Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana. This
research is important to developing faster, cheaper ways of finding
out whether a kissing bug fed on a person.
Meyers AC, Hamer SA, Matthews D, Gordon SG, Saunders AB. 2019.
Risk factors and select cardiac characteristics associated with
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in naturally infected dogs
presenting to a teaching hospital in Texas. J Vet Intern Med. 33:1695-1706.
This study reviewed the medical records of 375 dogs, some infected
with Trypanosoma cruzi, and some not infected. The highest
infection was found in non-sporting and toy breeds of dogs. Dogs were
more likely to be infected if they lived in a house with an infected
dog or were the littermate of an infected dog. Infected dogs were more
likely to have a particular kind of heart condition (ventricular
arrhythmias). This research is important to helping raise awareness of
Chagas disease in dogs and situations in which to consider testing
dogs for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
Hodo CL, Edwards EEW, Bañuelos RM, Wozniak EJ, Hamer SA. 2020.
Discrete typing unit associations and pathology of
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in coyotes (Canis latrans)
and raccoons (Procyon lotor) of Texas, USA. J of Wildlife Dis. 56(1): 34-144.
This study sampled coyotes and raccoons from central and south Texas.
Raccoons were more commonly infected with
Trypanosoma cruzi than coyotes. Racoons had very little damage
visible in the heart tissue and were infected with one strain of
Trypanosoma cruzi. Coyotes had inflamed heart tissue and were
infected with a different strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. This
study is important to determining which wildlife species play the
biggest role in T. cruzi maintenance and potential for
spill-over to humans and domestic animals.