Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
13:55

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Published on: January 27, 2019

Clinical aspects of the Chagas' heart disease

Gopikrishna Punukollu1, Ramesh M Gowda, Ijaz A Khan

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

International Journal of Cardiology
|June 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Chagas

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Chagas' heart disease, a leading cause of cardiomyopathy in the Americas, stems from the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi.
  • Transmission occurs primarily via kissing bugs (Reduviids), with other routes including blood transfusions and congenital transfer.
  • The disease progresses through acute and chronic phases, often with a prolonged latent period.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical aspects of Chagas' heart disease.
  • To highlight the pathophysiology and epidemiological impact of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
  • To discuss current therapeutic limitations and mortality rates.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical literature on Chagas' heart disease.
  • Analysis of transmission routes and disease progression.
  • Examination of mortality data across disease phases.

Main Results:

  • Chagas' disease leads to cardiac dysautonomia, apoptosis, and fibrosis, resulting in cardiomyopathy.
  • Acute phase mortality is approximately 5%, primarily from myocarditis.
  • Chronic phase mortality exceeds 50% within five years for patients with cardiac dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Management of chronic Chagas' heart disease remains largely empirical.
  • Trypanocidal therapy is effective in the acute phase.
  • Chagas' heart disease presents a significant public health challenge in the Americas due to its high morbidity and mortality.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Drug Screening Against All Life Cycle Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi Using Parasites Expressing β-galactosidase08:48

In Vitro Drug Screening Against All Life Cycle Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi Using Parasites Expressing β-galactosidase

Published on: November 5, 2021

Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model09:23

Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model

Published on: July 29, 2012

Related Concept Videos

American Trypanosomiasis01:22

American Trypanosomiasis

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification01:25

Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification

Cardiomyopathy, or CMP, is a group of diseases affecting the myocardial structure, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. This condition can lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.Cardiomyopathies are classified into primary and secondary categories:Primary Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions involving only the heart muscle that are often idiopathic (of unknown cause) or genetic. They primarily affect the myocardium without the involvement of other systemic...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The symptoms vary widely, encompassing asymptomatic presentations to severe, acute manifestations.Clinical PresentationAsymptomatic cases: In some instances, myocarditis may be asymptomatic, with the infection resolving without intervention. These cases often go undetected unless discovered incidentally through diagnostic imaging or tests conducted for other reasons.General Early Symptoms: Early symptoms of myocarditis are non-specific and can...