Pathogenesis of Chagas Disease in Humans

Abstract

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a zoonotic disease originally from Latin America, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Migration has been a key factor in the dissemination of Chagas disease. This chapter presents a brief summary of the most important means of transmission of Chagas disease including vector transmission, transfusion transmission, maternal-fetal transmission, and oral transmission. T. cruzi infection presents with two phases, namely, an acute phase and a chronic phase. The chapter describes both stages of the disease from three points of view: clinical aspects of the infection and/or disease; diagnosis; and treatment and management of people in each stage of the disease. The treatment of Chagas disease should be focused on two aspects: antiparasitic treatment in order to eradicate the parasite, and management of organ involvement due to the disease.