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CHAGAS DISEASE
1520 million people are infected
T. cruzi :
Transmission
Associated
with poor
living
conditions
Armadillo
reservoir
Fig. 1. Intracellular replication cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi in the
vertebrate host. (a) A bloodstream trypomastigote (brown)
approaches a host cell (yellow). (b) The trypomastigote becomes
stably attached at the periphery of the host cell, and initiates a
signaling process that results in elevation of the intracellular free
Ca2+ concentration. Host cell lysosomes (dark pink) gradually
migrate to the trypomastigote attachment site and fuse with the
plasma membrane. As lysosomes fuse, the parasite moves into the
cell and is internalized in a tight vacuole formed by lysosomal
membranes. This lysosomederived vacuole is subsequently
disrupted, releasing the parasite into the cytosol (see animated
version at: http://archive.bmn.com/supp/part/andrews.html). (c) In the
host cell cytosol, the parasites differentiate into amastigotes. (d)
Amastigotes replicate by binary fission with an approximate doubling
time of 12 h. (e) Amastigotes differentiate back into infective
trypomastigotes, which are released into the bloodstream upon
rupture of the host cell. (f) Bloodstream trypomastigotes circulate,
infecting new cells or initiating the insect replicative cycle, when
ingested by a reduviid vector. From
Tan and Andrews (2002) Trends in Parasitology 8, 427.
American trypanosomiasis
Etiologic agent (T. cruzi)
Metacyclic trypomastigotes and epimastigotes of T cruzi attached to
the epithelium of the rectal gland of Triatoma dimidiata
Triatoma sp.
Vinchuca
Assassin bug
Clinical syndromes
• Asymptomatic
• Acute
• Chronic
Asymptomatic
There are no symptoms in this stage, which may last for
many years.
There are no trypomastigotes in the bloodstream, but
antibody (IgG; immunoglobulin G) against T. cruzi is
present.
Pathogenesis
• The ACUTE stage
• The site of infection develops a localized inflammatory reaction
"chagoma nodule".
• If the infection is on the eye, a unilateral edemea and conjunctivitis
develops known as “ Chagoma/ Romana's sign".
• Trypanosomes appear in the blood in about 10 days.
• Systemic signs appear in 23 weeks after infection:
• High fevers
• Myalgia
• CNS may be affected
Disease more severe in children < 5 years
Chagas’ disease:
T. Cruzi in tissue
The chronic stage
• Approximately 1030% percent of individuals
progress from the asymptomatic stage to the
chronic stage. There are very low levels of
parasites in the blood.
• The adverse effects of chronic Chagas disease
include enlargement and aberrant function of the
liver, spleen,heart, esophagus and large intestine.
Chagas’ disease:
megacolon
Chagas’ disease:
megacardium
Pathogenesis
Autoimmune disease?
B13=cardiac myosin
Cruzipain=210kDa antigen from a skeletal
muscle extract
Diagnosis
• Blood Microscopy
• Low sensitivity during the
chronic stage
• Xenodiagnosis (50%
efficiency)
• Serological detection
• Elisa: Chagas kit
• PCR
Example of antibody based molecular
diagnosis
Chagas’ Disease
1. FATALA kit : measures T. cruzi antibodies in
blood using 2 recombinant proteins
2. BIO CHAGAS kit: uses cocktail recombinant
T. cruzi antigens.
Infection sera produces blue precipitate on strip
in 60 minutes.
(25 US dollars per kit).
Chagas' disease:
prevention and treatment
• Nifurtimox (Lampit, Bayer 205) (a derivative of
nitrofufurlidine) decreases the duration and severity of the
acute phase. But it is taken orally for long periods severe side
effects pain, nausea, vomiting, neurologic symptoms. No
effect on chronic phase.
• Benzimidazole can also suppress parasites in the acute phase.
This drug is also taken orally for long periods and has many
side effects.
Avoid and control the insect population
No vaccine