Title page for ETD etd-05012007-114014

Type of Document

Master's Thesis

Author

Lambert, Rebecca Click

Author's Email Address

raclick@vt.edu

URN

etd-05012007-114014

Title

Chagas Disease in the United States: the Emerging Threat and the Role Climate and Awareness Play in Its Spread

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Geography

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Kolivras, Korine N.	Committee Chair
Brewster, Carlyle C.	Committee Member
Paulson, Sally L.	Committee Member
Resler, Lynn M.	Committee Member

Keywords

infectious disease
vector-borne disease
Chagas disease
physician survey
medical geography

Date of Defense

2007-03-27

Availability

restricted

Abstract

This study evaluates the roles of temperature variability and disease awareness in the emergence of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America and primarily spreads to humans directly via the triatomine vector. Hosts for most triatomine species are mainly rodents and occasionally dogs. The disease itself is caused by a parasitic protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) which is found in the triatomine’s feces and is often spread while the triatomine is consuming a blood meal. T. cruzi from feces enters the body via an abrasion on the skin, the mucous membranes, conjunctivae, or through consumption.
To determine the risk of Chagas disease transmission one must define qualities that make the triatomine an effective disease vector as well as investigate the level of disease awareness among physicians and the population within the vector’s range. This thesis maps triatomine species within the U.S. that harbor T. cruzi naturally and that exhibit qualities of domesticity. These qualities are defined by whether the species bites humans and dogs as well as reports that the species has been found in the domestic setting. Ranges illustrating temperature thresholds for increased triatomine activity for 2000 and 2030 are also depicted. Additionally, outcomes of a physician survey are presented to gauge the status of Chagas disease awareness in areas at higher risk for disease transmission. Results reveal limited consideration of Chagas disease in physician diagnosis despite the higher risk range which extends through the southern U.S. and is predicted to expand significantly by 2030.

Files

Filename		Size	Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
Filename		Size	28.8 Modem	56K Modem	ISDN (64 Kb)	ISDN (128 Kb)	Higher-speed Access
	01Title_Abstract_TOC.pdf	20.04 Kb	00:00:05	00:00:02	00:00:02	00:00:01	< 00:00:01
	02Chapter_1_Intro_Stmt_of_Purpose.pdf	38.41 Kb	00:00:10	00:00:05	00:00:04	00:00:02	< 00:00:01
	03Chapter_2_Lit_Review.pdf	380.54 Kb	00:01:45	00:00:54	00:00:47	00:00:23	00:00:02
	04Chapter_3_Manuscript.pdf	1.43 Mb	00:06:37	00:03:24	00:02:58	00:01:29	00:00:07
	05Vita.pdf	9.68 Kb	00:00:02	00:00:01	00:00:01	< 00:00:01	< 00:00:01

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