Chagas disease is an infection caused by a parasite that is transmitted by insect bites. After years it can affect the heart. Promising new research should lead to more specific treatments.
Disease: Chagas Disease
Last update: June 2006
Intro
FAQ
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What is it?
Chagas disease is an infection caused by a parasite which enters the body via the bite of an infected insect. After the initial acute phase, there is a chronic phase that lasts many years. During the chronic phase, the parasite causes irreversible damage to the heart, oesophagus, colon and nervous system. -
Who gets it?
Chagas disease exists only on the American Continent. It is estimated to affect 16 to 18 million people in Central and South America and kills about 50,000 people every year. It is the largest cause of heart failure in this population. -
What can be done about it?
At present, control of the insect vector has been the most successful method of reducing the incidence of the diease to a minimum. Prevention and control include housing improvement, treatment of houses with insecticides and screening all blood donors from endemic countries. Current medicines can only be used to treat the early, acute phase of the disease. In the late stages, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms. -
What does the future hold?
New anti-parasitic medicines are being investigated. These inhibit enzymes and other substances that are necessary for the parasite to survive. An exciting strand of research is the development of vaccines. One of these targets is the whip-like tail of the parasite which allows it to travel in the body. Other vaccine targets include proteins which are abundant on the surface of the parasite and appear to have important enzymatic roles.
In 2005, scientists sequenced the genome of the Chagas disease parasite. It is hoped that this will lead to the development of other medicines and vaccines to treat or prevent this dangerous infection.