Love bites? Not quite: Kissing bugs and chagas disease in dogs

In the southern United States and across Latin America, kissing bugs can bite people and pets both outdoors and when they enter homes. While not every kissing bug carries disease, these insects can spread a parasite that causes Chagas disease, a tropical illness that can be fatal for both humans and animals.  

Dr. Sarah Hamer, a professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and member of the Canine Chagas Collaborative, explains what kissing bugs are, signs of illness to watch for, when pet owners should contact a veterinarian and how to reduce exposure around the home. 

What is a kissing bug?

Kissing bugs are blood-feeding insects that can spread disease-causing organisms, much like mosquitoes and arachnids like ticks. They are found throughout the southern U.S., where they typically live in wildlife nests and burrows, as well as around woodpiles, rock piles, and other sheltered spaces.

“Anywhere there is an easy source of blood, kissing bugs may live,” Hamer said.

These bugs can be recognized by their dark body, often with red or orange edge marking. Adult bugs can be about an inch long, while the immature nymphs are tiny and wingless, some as small as a grain of rice. Texas A&M University's Kissing Bug Community Science program offers resources to help identify them.

Kissing bugs are most active at night and are attracted to light, which can bring them closer to homes. They may enter houses, kennels, and other structures, particularly where animals are present. 

“Kissing bugs may feed by biting the face of a sleeping person; this is how they got their name,” Hamer said. 

While a kissing bug bite itself may not cause serious harm or an allergic reaction, these insects pose a threat because they can carry Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. “For the two most common species of kissing bugs in Texas, over half of the adult insects are infected with the parasite,” Hamer said. 

How mammals contract chagas disease

Kissing bugs can transmit T. cruzi to humans, dogs, cats, and other mammals by leaving traces of insect fecal matter behind while feeding; infections can occur when the feces enter the body through a wound (including those caused by the bug’s bite) or the eyes or mouth. 

“Dogs and wildlife also can become infected through oral transmission,” Hamer said. “The majority of dog and wildlife infections likely result from consumption of an infected kissing bug.”

Without widespread canine screening, it is hard to estimate the number of dogs that may be infected with the parasite. 

“Some research studies show 8 to 18% of working dogs and shelter dogs are infected, with increasing reports of infected dogs from Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states where kissing bugs occur,” Hamer said. “The infection rate in some outdoor dogs in group kennels in Texas can be even greater.”

Because some infected pets can develop serious heart disease, while others may live without any known impact on their health, owners should contact a veterinarian if their pet develops: 

●      Exhaustion during walks, exercise, or play

●      Shortness of breath

●      Coughing

●      Fluid buildup that causes abdominal swelling

●      Collapse or fainting

●      Fever

●      Lethargy

●      Loss of appetite

These signs may not occur until months after infection. However, some young dogs, often puppies, can develop severe disease and die shortly after becoming infected. 

Hamer advises pet owners to be particularly aware of these symptoms during the midsummer months, when kissing bug populations are at their peak. 

If you are concerned that your pet may have been exposed to kissing bugs, contact your veterinarian. They can test a pet’s blood for infection and develop a treatment plan based on the individual animal’s needs.

Owners also should tell their veterinarian if they find kissing bugs in areas where their dog sleeps or plays.  

“There are promising studies underway by several research teams that will provide guidance and protocols for screening and treating animals,” Hamer said. 

How to reduce risk of kissing bug exposure

To reduce the risk of exposure to kissing bugs, owners should take steps to limit the insect’s access to their homes and pets. Remove wood and rock piles when possible, reduce outdoor kennels where feasible, turn off outdoor lights at night, and contact pest control professionals if you find kissing bugs around your home. 

If you handle a kissing bug, avoid touching it with your bare hands. Instead, safely contain the insect in a jar or baggie.

Hamer encourages owners to submit a photo of any captured insects through the Texas A&M Kissing Bug Community Science program, which can help identify kissing bug species. 

The program provides free insect identification and testing, and submitted specimens are used to study kissing bug activity, habitat use, parasite infection, feeding patterns, and other factors relevant to human and animal health. The program has received more than 10,000 kissing bugs from 28 states.

Ultimately, awareness is one of the best tools pet owners have against kissing bugs and Chagas disease. By reducing opportunities for these insects to enter pet areas, discouraging pets from eating bugs, and seeking veterinary care when symptoms develop, owners can help protect their pets — and themselves — from this serious disease. 

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