What is the identify of this insect? What would you tell the patient's physician?
(Note - this is a good example of how insects are submitted to the laboratory for diagnosis. They are rarely in perfect condition!)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Case of the Week 92
The following insect was found in a patient's home in the Northeast U.S. The patient wanted to know if he should be concerned about potential disease transmission.
What is the identify of this insect? What would you tell the patient's physician?
(Note - this is a good example of how insects are submitted to the laboratory for diagnosis. They are rarely in perfect condition!)
What is the identify of this insect? What would you tell the patient's physician?
(Note - this is a good example of how insects are submitted to the laboratory for diagnosis. They are rarely in perfect condition!)
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7 comments:
The reduviid bug, or "kissing bug" is the vector for Chaga's disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis.
NICE pics! :)
I agree, this looks like a reduviid bug. But as to the answer of the second part of the question . . . I've thought about it before, but never investigated thoroughly. Seems that transmission of trypansommes would theoretically be possible, but the lack of disease in the NE would suggest there is some epidemiologic missing link. Look forward to the answer!
Yeah, what the heck is that thing? I've seen them now that we're living out here in Mass, but it doesn't look like any bug I recall from the Midwest. Now if I had to send in a specimen, it would look more like a collection of legs in a grease-stained paper towel... if a creature has more then 4 legs, I'm not particularly fond of it.
Speaking purely from personal experience, I think this is the bug that I find in my house, usually in the fall. The creature in question has wings, which are not prominent in reduvid bugs. Vermont
Good point about the wings, but also note that this specimen is a bit mangled. Usually the wings are neatly folded on the back of the insect, and are thus inconspicuous.
I found one of these bugs in our restroom.thought it might be a reduvid but it has leaf like structures on its hind legs.This bug looks like aleaf footed bug Leptioglossus occidentalis.There are reports of it now in the northeast and europe.
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