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Heart Disease Tests May Help Diagnose Chagas Disease In Dogs

By Kendra Zelachowski | Cardiology Resident

Close up of a kissing bug, a mostly black insect with orange stripes, on the bark of a tree.
A kissing bug. Photo courtesy of Dr. Gabriel Hamer, Texas A&M Department of Entomology

Chagas disease is caused by an infection of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi — which is transmitted by kissing bug insects — and can cause abnormalities in the heart in some infected dogs. The diagnosis and staging of Chagas disease remains challenging in part because of the difficulties in confirming the diagnosis and the expense of performing the diagnostic tests. Tests can include

  • electrocardiogram (ECG), a recording of the electrical activity of the heart
  • echocardiogram, an ultrasound imaging test of the heart, and
  • cardiac troponin I, a biomarker test for heart damage.

This study aimed to determine if heart disease could be detected with a simplified diagnostic testing plan in dogs living in an area with T. cruzi. Dogs were grouped based on the results of two tests for Chagas disease — positive on both tests, negative on both tests, or discordant/mixed test results).

The results showed that the brief echocardiogram did not distinguish between infection status, while ECG abnormalities and elevated cardiac troponin I were associated with dogs who tested positive on one or both tests for T. cruzi.

These findings indicate an ECG and cardiac troponin I may help identify dogs infected with T. cruzi that have heart disease.

The diagnostic tests used in this study are easily accessible to general practice veterinarians. Abnormal results can prompt further evaluation by a veterinary cardiologist and more frequent monitoring for development of clinical signs.