The Dillman Lab is thrilled to announce a new joint research project funded by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. This collaborative effort brings together our lab, the Aicher Lab at Texas A&M, and the Sinclair Lab at Loma Linda University to tackle the emerging threat of Heterobilharzia americana (HA), a blood fluke responsible for canine schistosomiasis.
Dr. Dillman first became involved with this specific parasite after the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health flagged local cases of HA in dogs that had never left California. This was a startling discovery because HA is a deadly parasite that causes significant suffering, leading to symptoms like chronic weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and dangerous calcium imbalances. Furthermore, treating it is difficult, often requiring multiple rounds of high-dose medications.
Recognizing that dogs are beloved family members, our collaborative team set out to understand how this parasite is spreading and how we can stop it.
Our Project Goals Working together, our tri-institutional team will focus on two major initiatives:
-
Tracking Infections: We will evaluate the prevalence of HA infection in dogs residing in—or having traveled to—California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado from 2018 to the present. We will identify HA-infected dogs using non-invasive fecal testing.
-
Mapping the Environment: We will determine the distribution of HA in freshwater bodies along the Colorado River across California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to understand the environmental and epidemiological factors driving transmission.
By mapping both the environmental presence of the parasite and its impact on the canine population, our ultimate goal is to keep owners informed about where the parasite is lurking and keep our dogs safe.
Spotlight: Where Curiosity Meets Canine Health Want to learn more about the inspiration behind this research? Check out the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s recent “Meet the Scientist” feature on Dr. Adler Dillman. Read about how a lifelong fascination with science fiction and alien biology ultimately led to a career dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of host-parasite interactions!
