I also tried to post last week to cavetex last week and got bounced off. Here is another resource dealing with Chagas disease from one of my graduate professors at UTA:
http://www.uta.edu/chagas/html/chagBiog.html RD ________________________________ >Folks, > >Two medical researchers at Baylor University (Dr. Hotez and Dr. Murray) are >interested in studying Triatomine Bugs (Kissing bug/Cone-nose Bug/Vinchuca) >for Trypanosama cruzi. This is the parasite that causes Chagus Disease in >dogs and humans. There is some discussion in the medical field whether Chagus >has been transmitted to humans south Texas or whether most of the Chagus >causes are representative of folks immigrating in from down south. It has >certainly been present in dogs and has resulted in a number of deaths in dogs. >This is a pretty nasty disease and I've been told is responsible for about >half of the heart transplant needs in Central and South America. It causes >all kinds of other health issues also. > >Anyway, the kissing bug is pretty common in south central Texas and I caught >four of them in the Deep Cabin last weekend. One had taken a blood meal (not >good). They were shipped off for testing. I've also seen two bites on the Deep >and Punkin Nature preserve property for kissing bugs. The researchers are >asking for folks to collect kissing bugs and submit them for testing. Since >cavers are commonly out and about and have their nose to the ground, I thought >I would ask if anyone is interesting in helping with the study. All you have >to do is collect the bugs, fill out a short form, and send it in to the >research along with the bug. Here are two links on Chagus. The bug can be >dead or alive but not smushed. The links also include some pictures of the bug >as they are around an inch or less long and have a real pointy nose. Maybe we >should rethink sleeping out without a tent or netting. > >If you would like to participate, please send me an email and I'll send you >the address and other information. > > >http://www.allaboutchagasdisease.com/ > >http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/ > >Thanks, > >Geary Schindel > > >
