"Kissing Bugs": Not as Sweet as They Sound
By FUPress
23rd November 2015
What are known as “kissing bugs” may sound sweet, but these insects are known to carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the cause of Chagas disease. Mary Elizabeth Dallas of HealthDay News notes that a recent study found that of these West Texas insects, as many as 61% were carrying the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. Read the full article here.
François Delaporte, author of Chagas Disease: History of a Continent’s Scourge, traces discoveries, dead ends
, and epistemic shifts that have marked the early history of what will become one of Latin America’s most serious endemic diseases. Delaporte’s study shows how an epistemological focus can add depth to the history of medicine and complexity to accounts of scientific discovery.
Through his skillful dissection, he shows how complicated its discovery actually was and offers wonderful insights into the international dimensions of Brazilian medical science in the early twentieth century. –William Bynum, Professor Emeritus of the History of Medicine, University College London
The strength of the study is the exhaustive discussion of the scientific literature, the subtle examination of fundamental shifts in conceptual frameworks, and the unrelenting interrogation of the crucial role that chance and error play in scientific research. –Carlo Caduff, King’s College, London
Visit Fordham Press’s website to learn more about this book and other related titles.