What is the principal organ affected by Chagas disease?

The heart is the most commonly affected organ in persons with chronic Chagas disease. Autopsy may reveal marked bilateral ventricular enlargement, often involving the right side more than the left, in the heart of patients who die of chagasic heart failure (see image below).

Who does Chagas disease affect?

Anyone exposed to the feces or urine of an infected kissing bug (triatomine) can develop Chagas disease. The infection is most common in rural or impoverished continental South America, Mexico and Central America.

Does Chagas affect the liver?

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, causes an intense inflammatory response in several tissues, including the liver. Since this organ is central to metabolism, its infection may be reflected in the outcome of the disease.

What organ system is affected by Trypanosoma?

Infection occurs in two stages, an initial haemolymphatic stage followed by a meningoencephalitic stage after the trypanosomes invade the central nervous system (CNS).

What causes Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.

KILLER DISEASES | How Chagas Disease Affects the Body

Where is Trypanosoma found in the body?

Some, such as Trypanosoma equiperdum, are spread by direct contact. In an invertebrate host they are generally found in the intestine, but normally occupy the bloodstream or an intracellular environment in the vertebrate host.

How does Chagas disease affect the body?

Symptoms of Chagas disease in the acute phase (the first few weeks or months) are: Mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, body aches, and headaches. Rash. Loss of appetite.

What does Chagas disease do to the heart?

Chagas cardiomyopathy represents the most frequent and serious complication of chronic Chagas disease, affecting about 20-30% of patients, potentially leading to heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, stroke and sudden death.

What organ is targeted during an infection with T. cruzi?

Bone Marrow Is a Target Organ in Orally Induced Trypanosoma cruzi Acute Infection. During the acute phase of oral T.

What does Chagas disease target?

Clinical course

Chronic infections are asymptomatic in two thirds of the human population. Chronic Chagas disease affects mostly the heart and the digestive tract. Arrhythmias and congestive heart failure are ominous signs of the disease. Megaoesophagus and megacolon cause dysphagia and constipation, respectively.

Does Chagas affect the brain?

The involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) during human acute and chronic Chagas disease (CD) has been largely reported. Meningoencephalitis is a frequent finding during the acute infection, while during chronic phase the CNS involvement is often accompanied by behavioral and cognitive impairments.

What is the definitive host of Chagas disease?

The protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, causes Chagas disease, a zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine bugs.

What is the mortality rate of Chagas disease?

1 In the United States, more than 300,000 people are living with the disease. 300,000 living with Chagas in the U.S. Chagas disease causes approximately 10,000 deaths per year globally. Up to 30% of infected people develop symptoms.

What cells does T. cruzi infect?

The establishment of T. cruzi infection and therefore Chagas disease occurs when the parasites are internalized by phagocytic cells that are recruited to the vector's bite sites. However, since these parasites have the ability to invade almost any cell type, even before reach immune cells, T.

What is the difference between Chagas disease and sleeping sickness?

Chagas disease and sleeping sickness are both infectious diseases caused by the parasite Trypanosoma. In particular, Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, while sleeping disease is caused by Trypanosoma gambiense. These parasites live in animals and can be transmitted from person to person.

Where does Trypanosoma infect?

West African trypanosomiasis can be contracted in parts of central Africa and in a few areas of West Africa. Most of the reported cases are found in central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Sudan, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, and northern Uganda).

What two diseases are caused by Trypanosoma?

East African, or Rhodesian, sleeping sickness is an acute form of the disease caused by the subspecies T. brucei rhodesiense. West African, or Gambian, trypanosomiasis is a slower-developing chronic form of the disease caused by T. brucei gambiense.

Is Chagas disease lifelong?

Chagas disease has an acute and a chronic phase. If untreated, infection is lifelong.

How common is Chagas disease in USA?

More than 5 million people worldwide have Chagas disease. In the United States, there are estimated to be at least 300,000 cases of chronic Chagas disease among people originally from countries of Latin America where Chagas disease is endemic.

Is Chagas easily diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Chagas disease can be made by observation of the parasite in a blood smear by microscopic examination. A thick and thin blood smear are made and stained for visualization of parasites.

Who is most at risk for Chagas disease?

Risk factors

The following factors may increase your risk of getting Chagas disease: Living in poor rural areas of Central America, South America and Mexico. Living in a residence that contains triatomine bugs. Receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplant from a person who carries the infection.

What are two ways Chagas disease can be spread?

It is transmitted by the triatomine bug (vector-borne), as well as orally (food-borne), through blood/blood products, mother-to-child (congenital) transmission, organ transplantation and laboratory accidents. Trypanosoma cruzi infection is curable if treatment is initiated soon after infection.

What are the neurological symptoms of Chagas?

In the chronic phase, it presents as neuritis that results in altered tendon reflexes and sensory impairment, and is reported in up to 10% of the patients. Isolated cases of central nervous system involvement can also include dementia, confusion, chronic encephalopathy and sensitive and motor deficits.

How do they test for Chagas disease in humans?

Commonly used techniques include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA).

How do you get diagnosed with Chagas?

Blood smear is the most common method of identifying acute Chagas disease and is commercially available. PCR testing is the most sensitive option to detect early acute-phase Chagas disease and can be ordered through the CDC.