Chagas Disease in the Mediterranean Area

Abstract

Chagas disease is a complex zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Endemic to Latin America, the disease has spread also to other continents, mainly Europe, due to population mobility. With this narrative review, we aimed at describing various aspect of Chagas disease with the perspective of the Mediterranean countries. Local epidemiology, control measures, country experiences, and contributions in research are exposed. A significant number of cases of Chagas disease are hosted in the Mediterranean area, mainly in Spain and Italy. Underdiagnosis and prevalence of the disease among groups at risk contribute to a worrisome scenario in this area, but the progressive improvement in access to diagnosis and care and evidences from research activities are giving an important contribution to combat the disease. In the last decades, significant advances in management issues and in the control of Chagas disease have been produced in the Mediterranean countries. Interesting contributions, such as results of some studies, exploring new frontiers in Chagas disease therapy, are interesting points also discussed in this review.