TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | j u n e 2 0 1 4 21 chagas disease chagas disease causes an estimated $800-900 million in economic losses in the u.s. annually. Severe acute respiratory Syndrome (SarS) in 2003, a reported 8,098 people worldwide became sick with sars. west nile virus in 2013, 48 states within the u.s. reported cases of west nile virus, according to the cdc. What is it? Chagas disease is a parasitic protozoan infection transmitted by a blood-sucking insect known as the "kissing bug." Where is it found? Roughly 7-8 million people are believed to be infected with Chagas Disease worldwide, with the majority liv- ing in Latin America. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 300,000 of those persons live in the United States. How is it spread? Infection is most commonly spread through contact with the feces of an infected "kissing bug." What is being done about it? The National School of Tropical Medicine treats Chagas disease patients at its Tropical Medicine Clinic, in collaboration with Harris Health System. A team of epidemiologists headed by Kristy Muray, DVM, Ph.D., is working with the Baylor Cardiovascular Research Institute to determine the extent of the disease in the Houston area and adjoining regions of Southeast Texas. The Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital, in collaboration with the Southwest Electronic Energy Medical Research Institute and the Carlos Slim Health Institute, is developing an innovative therapeutic vaccine now undergoing preclinical testing. What is it? Caused by the SARS coronavirus, it emerged out of South China and caused a highly lethal epidemic in 2002-03. The most common symptom of SARS is a high fever, followed by body aches and discomfort. Most patients also develop pneumonia. Where is it found? During the epidemic, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia. There have been no known cases of SARS anywhere in the world since 2004. How is it spread? SARS is most commonly spread through human- to-human contact, often in the form of respiratory droplets, from coughing or sneezing. What is being done about it? The Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development— in collaboration with a consortium that includes The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the New York Blood Center, and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research—is developing a new receptor binding domain recombinant SARS vaccine, potentially for stockpiling in the event of a biodefense emergency. What is it? West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause neurological disease and death. Symptoms include fever, head- ache, fatigue, aches and swollen lymph nodes. Approximately 80 percent of infected individuals will not show any symptoms. Where is it found? It is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. How is it spread? West Nile Virus is most often the result of being bitten by an infected mosquito. What is being done about it? Murray's group in the section of pediatric tropical medicine has identified a new chronic kidney disease among people with chronic persistent West Nile Virus infection. Her group is working this summer to deter- mine the full extent of West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever in Houston, as well as a third new arbovirus infection known as Chikungunya. In parallel, scien- tists in the vaccine development group are working to develop a therapeutic WNV vaccine for chronic renal disease sufferers through support of a grant from the Houston-based Chao Family Foundation. Arbovirus Infection Viruses transmitted by anthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks. D E F I N I T I O N

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