Most of us have a healthy fear of bugs, at least those for whom a nasty toxin, sting or bite can mean a trip to the hospital.
Two scholarly papers by a researcher at the 深夜看片鈥檚 (COPH) focus on a single insect 鈥 the so-called 鈥渒issing bug鈥欌 鈥 and its threat to human and animal health, particularly here in Florida.
The first of the related papers, 鈥,鈥 appeared in the journal Trends in Parasitology and discusses the genome of the triatomine, a flat, oval-shaped insect also called the 鈥渧ampire bug.鈥欌 The second paper, 鈥,鈥 appeared in the journal One Health and focuses on how the disease poses an under-recognized public health risk.
Dr. Juan David Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez (Photo courtesy of Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez)
, professor in the , , was the lead author of both papers, with support from COPH doctoral student Jessica Monaghan.
Jessica Monaghan (Photo courtesy of Monaghan)
鈥淚n short, the Trends paper asks, 鈥榟ow do we strengthen the genomic tools needed to understand and control the vector that transmits Chagas disease?鈥 鈥樷 Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez said. 鈥淭he One Health paper asks, 鈥榳hy does Chagas disease in Florida matter now, and what should public health systems be paying attention to?鈥欌
About the size of a quarter, kissing bugs are nocturnal vampires, feeding off a sleeping host鈥檚 blood. During feeding they typically defecate near the bite site; later, when the person scratches the irritated area, the parasite in the feces can enter the body through the wound or nearby mucous membranes, allowing Trypanosoma cruzi to infect the host.
The result is Chagas disease, which causes acute symptoms such as fever, body aches and fatigue and chronic heart or digestive issues years later. It poses a problem in states like Florida, with its favorable ecology, demographics and climate 鈭 along with the presence of infected vectors and animal reservoirs. Limited surveillance, diagnostics and clinical awareness make Florida a playground for kissing bugs and their parasite.
Chagas disease affects about 7 million people worldwide and kills about 10,000 each year. In the United States, some 300,000 people are infected annually but less than 10 percent are diagnosed, according to the World Health Organization.
Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez has been studying Chagas disease for more than 20 years, specifically in endemic regions such as his native Colombia. He trained in areas where the disease is a daily public health reality, affecting rural communities, children and families with limited access to diagnosis and treatment.
鈥淪eeing firsthand how this parasite circulates between insects, wildlife, domestic animals and people shaped my perspective early on,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淭hat continuity between endemic regions like Colombia and emerging or underrecognized settings like the southern United States is what motivates my research today.鈥欌
The dangers presented by kissing bugs are common knowledge in South America, but people in the United States are mostly unaware of these insects and their potential for harm. The bugs are attracted to light and can enter a home underneath doors or through unsealed cracks. Experts warn not to squash them, as it can release fecal matter and the risk of parasitic infection.
Kissing bugs (photo courtesy of Gabriel L. Hamer)
Dogs, cats and even horses that eat a kissing bug can become sick and develop a severe heart disease known as cardiomyopathy. If diagnosed in time, a pet can act as a sentinel for transmission. This is another reason why awareness in Florida 鈭 among both the public and veterinarians 鈭 is valuable even if human cases remain uncommon.
鈥淢ore than a hundred animals are reservoirs for T. cruzi, and the lack of surveillance systems hinders the ability to accurately estimate the burden of the parasite in this population,鈥欌 Monaghan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for the public to be aware of the presence of kissing bugs and T. cruzi in their area so that we can improve surveillance in Florida.鈥欌
Kissing bugs have been found in at least 32 states, most of which have little public health defense against the spread of the parasite, according to a 2025 UCLA Health infectious disease report: 鈥淢ost people living with Chagas disease are unaware of their diagnosis, often until it鈥檚 too late to have effective treatment,鈥 said Dr. Judith Currier, chief of infectious diseases at UCLA Health in Los Angeles.
The Trends paper focuses on the scientific and technological landscape of triatomine genomics 鈭 what we currently know, the limitations of existing genome assemblies and the methodological challenges. It also describes why improving genomic resources is critical for understanding vector biology, insecticide resistance, parasite鈥搗ector interactions and ultimately transmission dynamics.
鈥淕enomics helps us understand the insect vector at a very deep level,鈥欌 Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez added. 鈥淏y studying the genome of kissing bugs, we can learn how they adapt to different environments, what influences their ability to transmit parasites, how they develop insecticide resistance and how populations move across regions.鈥欌
In contrast, the paper on Chagas disease focuses on public health. It examines the evidence, ecological context and risk landscape in Florida, framing it as an issue that connects people, wildlife reservoirs, animals and disease vectors. It highlights surveillance gaps, emerging risks and the need for coordinated response.
By closing these gaps, the paper concludes, Florida can serve as a model for proactive public health intervention and help prevent the silent emergence of endemic Chagas disease. To get there, they recommend three broad steps in reducing the threat:
- Improve awareness among health care providers so cases are recognized and tested
- Strengthen the surveillance of insects, domestic animals, wildlife and human infections to understand where risk exists
- Invest in better diagnostics and access to treatment
鈥淭he goal is not to alarm people, but to ensure physicians, veterinarians and residents recognize that this disease exists here and that surveillance and prevention are important,鈥欌 Ram铆rez-Gonz谩lez said. 鈥淓arly awareness helps prevent delayed diagnoses and improves public health preparedness.鈥欌
For more information about Chagas and photos of different kissing bug species, visit: