Graduate Program

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

Winter 2024

Thesis Director

Elliott Zieman

Thesis Committee Member

Thomas Canam

Thesis Committee Member

Gary A. Bulla

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease and a growing health threat in the United States. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas and serve as reservoir hosts for T. cruzi. While T. cruzi is rare in humans and domestic animals in the U.S., it is common in wildlife species, particularly raccoons and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the raccoon population of Central Illinois and evaluate the risk of transmission to humans. I compared infection prevalence in Central Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Louisiana raccoons. Raccoon carcasses were obtained from roadkill and trappers in rural and urban areas. Heart tissue samples from 78 raccoons in Central Illinois were screened for T. cruzi using molecular methods. I found that 69.2% (95% CI [58.94–79.46%]) of raccoons in Central Illinois were infected with T. cruzi, significantly higher than the 18.9% (95% CI [6.31–31.49%]) reported in Southern Illinois and the 33.6% (95% CI [25.12–42.08%]) in Louisiana. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant regional differences (p < 0.001) in T. cruzi prevalence among raccoon populations, and the Chi-square test for independence confirmed a substantial difference between Central Illinois and the other study in Illinois (p < 0.0001). My findings highlight notable regional variations in T. cruzi prevalence and emphasize the importance of understanding local transmission dynamics to implement targeted surveillance and control measures.

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Available for download on Wednesday, December 03, 2025

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