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chagas_disease.pptxChaga’s Disease
By Gabriela De Anda and Abeer Alhawaj
Chaga’s Disease- General Information
The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) causes American Trypanosomiasis, which is commonly referred to as Chaga’s Disease.
This form of parasite is mostly found in most triatomine bugs (kissing bugs) which are endemic in Southwestern states of the US, parts of Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
General Biology and Life Cycle
General Biology: The kissing bug needs blood meals to develop; specifically, female kissing bugs need blood meals to lay eggs. Normally, the parasite is nocturnal and feed on a host when the host is sleeping, hardly ever waking them. (Bern, C., et al).
Life Cycle: The protist most often infects vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. The triatomine vector ingests trypomastigotes during a blood meal. Then the trypomastigote transforms into an epimastigote, where it then differentiates into amastigotes. The amastigotes replicate every 12 hours over the course of 4 or 5 days. After this, they transform back into trypomatigotes and enter into circulation. (Bern, C., et. al).
Source: UCLA college of Medicine.
Who is susceptible the disease/what are the risk factors?
People who are most susceptible include people living in rural areas of Latin America and the US.
Risk factors is that it is not readily detectable, thus making it hard to tackle. No drugs or vaccines are available to help stem the spread of the disease.
In addition, the acute stage of the disease always involves mild symptoms and may result in the disease being left untreated (Mitchell, 2016).
How does it spread?
Normally transmitted through the parasite-laden feces making contact with open wounds, mucous surfaces, or conjunctivitis of the eyes.
Can also be transmitted through blood transfusion.
Can be spread through ingested fluids such as milk.
May also be spread through bites from the kissing bug (Mitchell, 2016).
Common symptoms/diagnosis
Symptoms: Symptoms can have 2 stages (acute and chronic).
Acute Stage: Can last weeks or months. Symptoms are normally extremely mild and can include fever, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and rash.
Chronic Stage: Can last 10 to 20 years after infection or not at all. Symptoms include congestive heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and cardiac arrest. (Mayo Clinic)
Diagnosis: diagnosis is made by looking for the parasite in a sample of blood. Diagnosis can only be made in the acute stage of the disease, when the parasites can be seen. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Treatment
Before treatment can be done, various tests must be performed to determine if the disease has entered into the chronic stage. Tests include chest and abdominal xrays, echocardiogram, and upper endoscopy. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
Treatment in the acute stage: benznidazole and nifurtimox are two medications that can only be obtained through the CDC that are used to kill the parasite. In the later stages, nothing can be done to eliminate it, only suppress it. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
How can it be prevented?
Spray insecticide
Screen blood to avoid transfusion-acquired disease.
Avoid traveling to places where the kissing bug is prevalent.
Pregnant women should find out as soon as possible if they have the disease to avoid the spread of Chagas Disease through mother-to-baby. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Who it affects the most
The disease has been known to affect most people who are always traveling and those who live in primitive rural areas.
People living in rural areas who keep poultry and dogs are at greater risk due to the prevalence of the bug in these areas (Mitchell, 2016).
People affected worldwide annually
According to the CDC, a number of people believed to be affected worldwide by this disease include about 6 to 7 million people in the US and Latin America. An additional 65 million people across the globe are at risk of contracting the disease annually (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
Prevalence
Chagas Disease is most prevalent in Central and South America (Texas A&M University).
Chagas Disease is especially common in underdeveloped cities that lack proper housing or have housing made of clay or mud. (Texas A&M University)
In the United States, kissing bugs have been established in 28 states (Texas A&M University)
The highest density of bugs are found in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. (Texas A&M University)
References
Bern, C., Kjos, S., Yabsley, M., Montgomery, S. (2011). Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas Disease in the United States. American Society for Microbiology. 24(4), 655-681. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194829/#_ref-listid710252title
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Parasites- American Trypanosomiasis (also Known as Chagas Disease). Retrieved October 17, 2016 from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Diseases and Conditions- Chagas Disease. Retrieved October 17, 2016 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chagas-disease/basics/definition/con-20030854?p=1
References Cont.
Mitchell, C. (2016). PAHO WHO. Chagas Disease. Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. Retrieved October 19, 2016 from http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9467%3A2014-chagas-disease&catid=6648%3Afact-sheet&Itemid=40721&lang=en
Texas A&M University. (2016). Kissing Bugs and Chagas Disease in the United States. Retrieved October 17, 2016 from http://kissingbug.tamu.edu/faq/
World Health Organization. (2016). Chagas Disease. Retrieved October 19, 2016 from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs340/en/
