Saturday, July 20, 2013

Chagas disease in the United States

As we learned in class, Chagas disease can be found in the United States and the CDC lists Trypanosoma cruzi as a neglected parasitic infection along with neurocysticercosis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, and trichomoniasis. The CDC also estimates that there are at least 300,000 people in the United States with Chagas disease.

How does Chagas disease affect so many people? The triatomine bugs can be found from the east to west coasts and as far north as Pennsylvania. There are eleven species of triatomine in the US. Not only are triatomines found in much of the US but mammalian hosts with Trypanosoma cruzi have been found almost everywhere the triatomines live.

What can we do to prevent the spread of Chagas disease? The first thing is that living in a well-made dwelling prevents contact with triatomines. Because we do not contact the bugs there are only 7 known cases of autochthonous transmission to humans on the US. But currently it is estimated that 300 cases of congenital Chagas transmission happen each year. The biggest barrier to control is knowledge. Doctors don’t know that it is and that there are treatments once it is detected. Detection is also hampered because of the lack of any rapid point of care detection methods.


Bern, Caryn, et al. "Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas' disease in the United States." Clinical microbiology reviews 24.4 (2011): 655-681.

4 comments:

  1. It is hard to believe that the disease is lethal and 25% of the population of Latin America is at risk of acquiring Chagas disease. I have read something interesting about T. Cruzi that transmits T. Cruzi are found in North, Central and South America. Blood banks in selected cities of the continent vary between 3.0 and 53% making the prevalence of T. cruzi infected blood higher than that of Hepatitis B, C, and HIV infection. And currently U.S. blood banks do not routinely screening for T. Cruzi.

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  2. This so devastating that Chagas disease is life-threating illness. According to WHO, up to 30% of chronically infected people develop cardiac alterations and up to 10% develop digestive, neurological or mixed alterations, for which specific treatment may become necessary. Disease can be treated with benznidazole and nifurtimox. We can prevent Chagas disease by insecticide spraying of houses and surrounding areas.

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