Triatomine species (kissing bugs) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi are found across the southern United States. The northern limits of Trypanosoma cruzi infected kissing bugs are less understood. The objective of this work was to describe the locations of kissing bugs from Illinois and Missouri based on historical records, submissions to Texas A&M University’s (TAMU) Kissing Bug Community Science Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and records from online platforms (iNaturalist, BugGuide, and GBIF) up to and including 2022. A total of 228 records were discovered, including 186 from historical or observation platforms and 42 specimens submitted to TAMU or CDC. Species included Triatoma sanguisuga (221 total records, 9 nymphs) and Triatoma lecticularia (7 records). Notably, nearly all (24/26) records submitted to TAMU were collected indoors. Twelve of the 30 (40%) specimens tested were positive for the presence of T. cruzi, including parasite discrete taxonomic units TcI and TcIV. One triatomine sample had been found in a bed feeding on the submitter; this bug was positive for T. cruzi and had evidence of human blood in its gut. Records suggest a ubiquitous distribution in Missouri and potentially to the northernmost border in Illinois. Further investigations into triatomine distribution and infection status are needed within states assumed to be northern limits in order to create public health and veterinary health messaging and baseline distributional maps from which to measure future range shifts in relation to a changing climate.
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite
To report epidemiologic and select cardiac characteristics associated with
Three hundred seventy‐five client‐owned dogs.
A retrospective search of medical records identified dogs tested for
Dogs infected with
- PAR ID:
- 10375833
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- Volume:
- 33
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0891-6640
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 1695-1706
- Size(s):
- p. 1695-1706
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Background A low electrocardiogram (ECG) lead one ratio (LOR) of the maximum positive/negative QRS amplitudes is associated with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and worse outcomes in left bundle branch block (LBBB); however, the impact of LOR on cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) outcomes is unknown. We compared clinical outcomes and echocardiographic changes after CRT implantation by LOR.
Methods Consecutive CRT‐defibrillator recipients with LBBB implanted between 2006 and 2015 at Duke University Medical Center were included (N = 496). Time to heart transplant, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, or death was compared among patients with LOR <12 vs ≥12 using Cox‐proportional hazard models. Changes in LVEF and LV volumes after CRT were compared by LOR.
Results Baseline ECG LOR <12 was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.69 (95% CI: 1.12‐2.40,
P = .01) for heart transplant, LVAD, or death. Patients with LOR <12 had less reduction of LV end diastolic volume (ΔLVEDV −4 ± 21 vs −13 ± 23%,P = .04) and LV end systolic volume (ΔLVESV −9 ± 27 vs −22 ± 26%,P = .03) after CRT. In patients with QRS duration (QRSd) ≥150 ms, LOR <12 was associated with an adjusted HR of 2.01 (95% CI 1.21‐3.35,P = .008) for heart transplant, LVAD, or death, compared with LOR ≥12.Conclusions Baseline ECG LOR <12 portends worse outcomes after CRT implantation in patients with LBBB, specifically among those with QRSd ≥150 ms. This ECG ratio may identify patients with a class I indication for CRT implantation at high risk for poor postimplantation outcomes.
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Abstract Objectives Understanding disease transmission is a fundamental challenge in ecology. We used transmission potential networks to investigate whether a gastrointestinal protozoan (
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