Chagas' disease

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http://www.uta.edu/chagas/

 

Chagas' disease

 

A study of the disease by Dr. Joseph Bastien

Chagas' disease affects an estimated 18 to 20 million people in

Central, South America, and the United States. Its symptoms are

varied, diffuse, and may be caused by other diseases besides chagas.

Acute chagas is lethal, especially for children, and chronic chagas

debilitates patients for years (see diagram).

Chief symptoms of Chagas' disease include constipation, malaise or a

feeling of always being tired, the inability to swallow, fever, and

varying degrees of discomfort and/or abdominal pain.

These symptoms are caused by a microscopic pathogen called Trypamosoma

cruzi, or T. cruzi, a protozoan parasite. T. cruzi is transmitted to

humans by Triatomine insects, called vinchucas and barbeiros, that are

commonly found in poor areas with unsanitary housing conditions.

T.cruzi inhabits its victims' cells, and colonizes the heart, colon,

and esophagus.

This web site gives information to the patient as well as to the lay

person about Chagas' disease.

© Copyright University of Texas at Arlington 1998

 

 

http://www.uta.edu/chagas/html/chagBiol.html

 

Biology of Chagas' Disease

Chagas' disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) after it

invades warm-blooded mammals (humans and animals) and colonizes

tissues of nerve cells. T. cruzi is a protozoa parasite, overview of

the biology of Chagas' disease a pathogen that causes injury to an

organ which it colonizes, greatly enlarging it, by denervating its

nerve and muscle tissues. This enlargement of organs is referred to as

the megasyndrome. Chagas' disease often goes undiagnosed because its

symptoms are associated with heart disease, volulus, achlasia, and

constipation. Laboratory tests are necessary to detect the presence of

T. cruzi. Tests are unavailable in many places in Latin America and

the United States. Because of possible contamination through blood

transfusions, Chagas' disease has spread to Europe and North America,

and it is important that people who exhibit symptoms related to chagas

be tested for Chagas' disease.

T. cruzi is related to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which causes

African sleeping sickness. American trypanosomiasis is chagas'

official name to distinguish it from African trypanosomiasis (Sleeping

Sickness).

 

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Parasites:

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T.cruzi

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Vectors:

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T. infestans and other species

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Hosts

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Method of transmittance

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Contamination

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Blood and organ transplants

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Birth

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The human immune response system

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Testing and treatment

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Case histories