Chagas disease in Oklahoma

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is one of the leading public health problems in the Western Hemisphere. The parasite is mainly transmitted by contact with infected insect vectors but other forms of transmission are important in endemic areas. In the United States, while the disease is largely restricted to immigrants from endemic countries in Latin America, there is some risk of local acquisition. T. cruzi circulates in a sylvatic cycle between mammals and local triatomine insects in the southern half of the country, where human residents may be at risk for incidental infection. There are several reported cases of locally-acquired Chagas disease in the United States, but there is a paucity of information in Oklahoma. We present a brief summary of the available data of Chagas disease in Oklahoma to raise awareness and serve as a foundation for future research.

Keywords: Benznidazole; Chagas; Nifurtimox; Oklahoma; Trypanosoma.

FIGURE 1.

Chagas disease: life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi Content: This illustration depicts the life cycle of the trypanosome, Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas disease. For a complete description of the T. cruzi life cycle, paste the following address in your address bar: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/trypanosomiasisamerican/index.html. (From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], Atlanta, GA. Content Providers: CDC/ Alexander J. da Silva, PhD; Melanie Moser, 2002).

FIGURE 2.

Natural History of Chagas Disease in Humans.