Vampire Bugs? Here's what to know about Chagas Disease
- Dulce Perez Marron
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 15
Kissing Bugs
Triatomines, also known as cone-nose bugs, chinches, vampire bugs, and kissing bugs, are bugs that feed on blood, mainly at night during their victims' inactivity. They are called kissing bugs as they sometimes bite people in the face. These bugs have been found in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and South America. In the U.S, this bug has been found in about 29 states, and there are 11 different kinds of kissing bugs.
Kissing bugs have a unique look, but can be mistaken for similar species. Kissing bugs are
slightly flat with long, thin needle-like heads. They are dark brown or black in color, and most species have a band around the sides of the body that is either orange or red. They range in size from about a half inch to one and a quarter inches long. Their legs are long and skinny with no bulging parts. They hatch from small eggs and go through 5 nymphal stages before they're full-grown. Though a kissing bug can spread Chagas Disease at any point in its life, adult bugs are more likely to carry the virus than nymph bugs are. It is found that 1 in 2 or 50% of kissing bugs will carry the T. cruzi parasite by the research of Texas A&M University.
These bugs are mostly active in the warmer months from May to October and live between one to two years. Though adult bugs are more likely to be found walking, these bugs can fly up to 3.5 miles in distance, and even though they're referred to as kissing bugs, the parasite that causes Chagas disease isn't in the saliva or bite of the kissing bug, but in their feces.
Chagas Disease
Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma Cruzi, sometimes called T. Cruzi for short. Chagas disease is not only found in humans but also in other mammals, like dogs, chickens, and other farm animals. This parasite is spread through the feces of kissing bugs. Some kinds of kissing bugs may poop while feeding, and if a person scratches at the bite, pushing the feces into the wound, the person may get sick. The parasite may also enter the body through the mouth and eyes, such as a dog eating a kissing bug. A mother kissing bug with Chagas disease can also pass the disease to her baby while she is pregnant. The parasite can be passed through blood and organ donations and even foods or drinks contaminated with kissing bug feces.
Symptoms and How to Avoid Chagas Disease
Chagas disease has two stages: the 'acute phase' and the 'chronic phase'. After the T. cruzi parasite enters the body, the acute phase can last between a few weeks and months. During this phase, some people experience symptoms like fever, tiredness, body aches, headache, rash, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or vomiting. However, not all people experience symptoms during the acute phase, making it difficult to diagnose Chaga disease. After the parasite enters the body, about 1 of 3 people develop the chronic phase of Chagas disease. The chronic phase can take years to develop, and some people have the chronic phase for decades after the parasite enters their body. In the chronic phase, people may experience heart problems or other symptoms. It is unknown exactly how many people in the U.S. have chagas disease, but scientists believe there are at least 300,000 cases of chagas disease in people.
Some animals may be able to carry the parasite without any symptoms. Some wild animals in the U.S. that carry the disease are woodrats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other mammals, while birds and reptiles can not be infected with the disease. In dogs, this infection can cause heart disease, while many other dogs will not show any symptoms, and there aren't many treatments for dogs when it comes to Chagas disease.
The environments of a house are very important when it comes to avoiding Chagas disease. Some precautions that can be taken are securing any areas the kissing bugs may enter, keeping a clean environment, and keeping outside lights off so as not to attract the bugs. It is also important to keep in mind that kissing bugs can be drawn to the heat and smell of areas where there are lots of dogs. Though one kissing bug may not necessarily indicate danger, nymphs and large numbers of adult kissing bugs are red flags to look for when checking if your house is infested or near a breeding population of kissing bugs. Research, vaccines, and treatments are still currently being studied, as this is a neglected tropical disease that can be difficult to identify.
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