Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Texas hunters: a potentially high-risk population for exposure to the parasite that causes Chagas disease

Abstract

BackgroundChagas disease is a parasitic infection transmitted to humans and mammals by the Triatominae insect. If untreated, Chagas disease can lead to heart failure and death. Previous publications highlighted the potential public health risk of disease transmission among hunters in the United States.FindingsWe further investigated this population’s risk by administering a knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire. Responses from hunters detailed the vector exposure and hunting practices unique to this population that might lead to their increased risk of disease transmission.ConclusionsHunters should be aware of their potential risk for exposure to the insect that could be infected with the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

One Health Interactions of Chagas Disease Vectors, Canid Hosts, and Human Residents along the Texas-Mexico Border

“…Within the state, sylvatic transmission cycles have been reported with seven different vector species and 27 sylvatic mammalian reservoirs [10]. The potential for sylvatic spillover to humans in this region has been implicated from increased outdoor exposure and interactions in rural environments [13]. In addition, colonias (primarily Hispanic communities) in this region of Texas have unprecedented poverty rates and living conditions that allow for easy access for vectors to enter and colonize homes, which might place residents at an increased risk of domestic transmission [5, 14].…”

Sylvatic Transmission ofTrypanosoma cruziAmong Domestic and Wildlife Reservoirs in Texas,USA: A Review of the Historical Literature

“…Activities that require frequent contact with domestic and wild animals could elevate the risk for human infections. Hunters have been recognized as a potential high‐risk group due to the extended amount of time they spend outdoors and the risk for blood‐borne exposure during the field dressing process (Yaeger, ; Barr et al., ; Pung et al., ; Bern et al., ; Cantey et al., ; Garcia et al., , ). A survey conducted with a wildlife management association in south central Texas found that the vast majority of hunters (93%) reported field dressing their game animals.…”

“…While it has been well documented that triatomine bugs are endemic in Texas with over half typically found to be T. cruzi positive (Kjos et al, 2009;Curtis-Robles et al, 2015;Wozniak et al, 2015), the appropriate studies designed to fully understand the burden of disease among the Texas wildlife, domestic animal and human populations have not yet been Packchanian, 1942;Burkholder et al, 1980 Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) 71/399 18 Packchanian, 1942;Eads et al, 1963 Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 24/54 44 Schaffer et al, 1978;Burkholder et al, 1980;Charles et al, 2013 Packchanian, 1942;Eads and Hightower, 1952;Pippin, 1970;Burkholder et al, 1980;Ikenga and Richerson, 1984;Pinto et al, 2010;Charles et al, 2013 Burkholder et al, 1980;Ikenga and Richerson, 1984;Meurs et al, 1998;Beard et al, 2003;Shadomy et al, 2004;McPhatter et al, 2012;Tenney et al, 2014 Activities that require frequent contact with domestic and wild animals could elevate the risk for human infections. Hunters have been recognized as a potential high-risk group due to the extended amount of time they spend outdoors and the risk for blood-borne exposure during the field dressing process (Yaeger, 1961;Barr et al, 1991;Pung et al, 1995;Bern et al, 2011;Cantey et al, 2012;Garcia et al, 2014aGarcia et al, , 2015. A survey conducted with a wildlife management association in south central Texas found that the vast majority of hunters (93%) reported field dressing their game animals.…”

“…Our research has shown that sylvatic transmission cycle spillover has been implicated in autochthonous cases of human Chagas disease identified in Texas (Garcia et al., ). Previous work has demonstrated that certain high‐risk activities, like hunting and camping, could lead to sylvatic transmission cycle intrusion resulting in the potential for parasite exposure (Garcia et al., , ). Without a full understanding of the transmission dynamics and rates of infectivity in the mammalian population, we will not be able to effectively prevent transmission.…”

Autochthonous Chagas disease in the southern United States: A case report of suspected residential and military exposures

“…If this were indeed where he was infected, then this case would represent the first autochthonous case in Arizona. The patient had history of residence in Texas, another known area of local transmission (Garcia, Murphy, Gross, Wagner, & Murray, ); however, he had only been living in Texas for a year prior to first testing positive and did not report seeing any triatomines at this residence. While less likely, we cannot rule out the potential of vector exposure during the frequent military exercises in states with known sylvatic transmission.…”