Abstract
Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) has recently been identified as an important neglected tropical disease in the United States. Anecdotally referred to as a “silent killer,” it leads to the development of potentially fatal cardiac disease in approximately 30% of those infected. In an attempt to better understand the potential of Chagas disease as a significant underlying cause of morbidity in Texas, we performed a historical literature review to assess disease burden. Human reports of triatomine bites and disease exposure were found to be prevalent in Texas. Despite current beliefs that Chagas disease is a recently emerging disease, we report historical references dating as far back as 1935. Both imported cases and autochthonous transmission contribute to the historical disease burden in Texas. We end by discussing the current knowledge gaps, and recommend priorities for advancing further epidemiologic studies and their policy implications.
Highlights
Carlos Chagas first described the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi after isolation of the organism from the blood of a Brazilian patient in 1909 [1]
Research since has allowed us to understand that natural transmission of T. cruzi occurs between humans and an insect vector, Triatoma species from the Reduviidae family [2]
In an area where 92% of collected vectors were found to be positive for T. cruzi infection, the author queried residents about history of triatomine bites
Summary
Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) has recently been identified as an important neglected tropical disease in the United States. Referred to as a “silent killer,” it leads to the development of potentially fatal cardiac disease in approximately 30% of those infected. In an attempt to better understand the potential of Chagas disease as a significant underlying cause of morbidity in Texas, we performed a historical literature review to assess disease burden. Despite current beliefs that Chagas disease is a recently emerging disease, we report historical references dating as far back as 1935. Both imported cases and autochthonous transmission contribute to the historical disease burden in Texas.
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