TRYPANOSOMA

CRUZI
MEDICAL DEFINITION OF TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI.
TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI: THE PARASITIC MICROORGANISM
(FLAGELLATE PROTOZOA) THAT CAUSES CHAGAS DISEASE
 HABITAT

TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, A PROTOZOAN PARASITE, IS THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF CHAGAS

DISEASE. IT IS MOST COMMONLY FOUND AMONG PEOPLE, DOGS, CATS, AND WILD MAMMALS
IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE
RESIDE IN HOUSES CONSTRUCTED FROM MUD OR THATCH. THE VECTOR IS THE REDUVIID
OR KISSING BUG, WHICH LIVES IN THE CRACKS OF BUILDINGS AND SUBSTANDARD HOUSES.
OFTEN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING/LIVING CONDITIONS ARE SHOWN TO HAVE THESE
STRUCTURAL FRACTURES, WHICH PROVIDE SUITABLE HABITATS FOR REDUVIID BUGS. THE
REDUVIID BUG TRANSMITS T. CRUZI BY RUBBING ITS OWN CONTAMINATED FECES INTO AN
ABRASION (WOUND OR BUG BITE) OR A MUCOUS MEMBRANE OF THE HOST. TWO OTHER
MODES OF INFECTION ARE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS/ORGAN TRANSPLANTS AND
PERINATAL/VERTICAL TRANSFER FROM MOTHER TO CHILD. IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN
REPORTS THAT INFECTIONS ORIGINATED FROM UNDERCOOKED FOOD THAT WAS
CONTAMINATED
 OTHER NAME

CHAGAS DISEASE
LIFE CYCLE
 DIAGNOSTIC STAGE

COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TEST:

SEROLOGY
STAINED BIOPSY

CLINICAL SIGNS:
ASYMPTOMATIC INITIALLY FOLLOWED BY LYMPHADENOPATHY AND ACUTE MYOCARDITIS.
TREATMENT:
TREATMENT IS NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL AND MAY NOT BE WORTHWHILE.
DRUGS:
QUINAPYRAMINE SULFATE
 MODE OF TRANSMISSION

IN CHAGAS DISEASE-ENDEMIC AREAS, THE MAIN WAY IS THROUGH VECTORBORNE

TRANSMISSION. THE INSECT VECTORS ARE CALLED TRIATOMINE BUGS. THESE BLOOD-SUCKING
BUGS GET INFECTED BY BITING AN INFECTED ANIMAL OR PERSON. ONCE INFECTED, THE BUGS
PASS T. CRUZI PARASITES IN THEIR FECES.
 INFECTIVE STAGE

AN INFECTED TRIOTOMINE INSECT VECTOR ( OR KISSING BUG) TAKES A BLOOD MEAL AND
RELEASES TYPOMASTIGOTES IN ITS FECES NEAR THE SITE OF THE BITE WOUND.
 DISEASE
CHAGAS DISEASE CAN CAUSE A SUDDEN, BRIEF ILLNESS (ACUTE), OR IT MAY BE LONG LASTING (CHRONIC) CONDTION
ACUTE PHASE
SWELLING AT THE INFECTION SITE
FEVER
RASH
BODY ACHES
EYELID SWELLING
HEADACHE
LOSS OF APPETITE
NAUSEA, DIARRHEA, OR VOMITING
SWOLLEN GLANDS
ENLARGEMENT OF YOUR LIVER OR SPLEEN
 CHRONIC PHASE

IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST
DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING DUE TO ENGLAND ESOPHAGUS
ABDOMINAL PAIN OR CONSTIPATION DUE TO ENGLARGED COLON
 PATHOGENESIS

SEVERE INFECTION WITH T. CRUZI OCCURS PREDOMINANTLY IN CHILDREN UNDER 1O YEARS

OLD. THE COURSE OF INFECTION CAN BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE STAGES: ACUTE,
INDETERMINATE AND CHRONIC.
SPECIAL TEST