Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs outside usual areas in North
By Gavic, Emily A et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2023·1BluePearl Veterinary Partners·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Trypanosoma cruzi infection diagnosed in dogs in nonendemic areas and results from a survey suggest a need for increased Chagas disease awareness in North America.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 12 dogs diagnosed with Trypanosoma cruzi infection, which can cause heart problems, were studied to understand how this disease affects pets in areas where it's not commonly found. Most of these dogs had been living in nonendemic areas for less than a year before showing symptoms, and many had heart issues. Unfortunately, 5 of the dogs died unexpectedly, while 4 were still alive at the last check-up. This highlights the need for pet owners and veterinarians to be more aware of Chagas disease, especially in regions where it isn't typically seen.
People also search for: dog heart problems · Chagas disease in dogs · symptoms of Trypanosoma cruzi infection · dog sudden death causes · awareness of Chagas disease in pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation and outcome in dogs diagnosed with Trypanosoma cruzi infection in nonendemic areas and to survey veterinary cardiologists in North America for Chagas disease awareness. ANIMALS: 12 client-owned dogs; 83 respondents from a veterinary cardiology listserv. PROCEDURES: A retrospective, multicenter medical records review to identify dogs diagnosed with American trypanosomiasis between December 2010 and December 2020. An anonymous online survey was conducted August 9 to 22, 2022. RESULTS: Diagnosis was made using indirect fluorescent antibody titer (n = 9), quantitative PCR assay (1), or postmortem histopathology (2). Time spent in Texas was < 1 year (n = 7) or 2 to 8 years (5). Time in nonendemic areas prior to diagnosis was < 1 year (n = 10) and > 3 years (2). Eleven had cardiac abnormalities. Of the 12 dogs, 5 had died unexpectedly (range, 1 to 108 days after diagnosis), 4 were still alive at last follow-up (range, 60 to 369 days after diagnosis), 2 were euthanized because of heart disease (1 and 98 days after diagnosis), and 1 was lost to follow-up. Survey results were obtained from 83 cardiologists in North America, of which the self-reported knowledge about Chagas disease was limited in 49% (41/83) and 69% (57/83) expressed interest in learning resources. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results highlight the potential for encountering dogs with T cruzi infection in nonendemic areas and need for raising awareness about Chagas disease in North America.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36735504/