Department of Pediatrics

Kissing Bug Project

Master
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Kissing Bug Collection Instructions

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Pictured in the poster above are the three Triatoma species common in Texas (photos courtesy of Dr. Edward Wozniak). Kissing bug specimens (dead or alive) can be placed in a Ziploc bag or a pill vial and mailed in a padded envelope to the address indicated on the submission form. Please fill out the collection information on the submission form include it the in envelope with the specimen. If you have more than one insect, each should be in their own bag and have their own submission form (please make copies if needed, or just write the information on a separate sheet of paper).

The feces of kissing bugs may contain the parasite, so please use caution when handling the insects. If you encounter a kissing bug or its nymph, do not use bare hands trying to catch it, but rather use gloves or an inverted plastic bag or Ziploc bag over your hand. For the same reason the surfaces the bug crawled on should be decontaminated with bleach or similar disinfectants.

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Imposters

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Many bugs look like kissing bugs but do not harbor T. cruzi. See examples.

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Look-Alikes

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There are several species of bugs that look like kissing bugs but are not, including the following:

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Not Sure?

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Snap a photo and e-mail it to chagas@bcm.edu.