Chagas disease

Chagas disease (also called American trypanosomiasis) is a human tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas, particularly in South America. Its pathogenic agent is a flagellate protozoan named Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans and other mammals mostly by hematophagous insects of the subfamily Triatominae (Family Reduviidae). Those insects are known by numerous common names varying by country, including assassin bug, benchuca, vinchuca, kissing bug, chipo, barbeiro, et cetera. The most common insect species belong to the genera Triatoma, Rhodnius, and Panstrongylus. Other forms of transmission are possible, though, such as ingestion of food contaminated with parasites, blood transfusion and fetal transmission.

Related Topics:
Tropical - Parasitic disease - Americas - South America - Flagellate - Protozoa - Trypanosoma cruzi - Mammal - Hematophagous - Insect - Triatominae - Reduviidae - Assassin bug - Triatoma - Rhodnius - Panstrongylus - Parasite - Blood transfusion - Fetal

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Trypanosoma cruzi is a member of the same genus as the infectious agent of African sleeping sickness, but its clinical manifestations, geographical distribution, life cycle and insect vectors are quite different.

Related Topics:
Genus - Sleeping sickness - Vectors

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