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Published on: January 27, 2019
Globalization of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis): the situation in Europe and Belgium
1Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine, U.L.B.
Insights
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is spreading globally due to migration. This highlights the need for control measures in non-endemic regions like Europe and Belgium.
Area of Science:
- Tropical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions in Latin America, primarily leading to cardiac issues.
- Transmission occurs via vectors, congenital means, blood transfusions, organ transplants, and oral ingestion.
- While incidence declines in Latin America due to control programs, global migration is spreading the infection.
Discussion:
- Globalization has led to a significant increase in Trypanosoma cruzi infections in non-endemic areas, including the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
- The World Health Organization recognized the global spread in 2007, stressing the need for patient management and control in non-endemic countries.
- This paper examines the current Chagas disease situation in Europe, with a focus on Belgium.
Key Insights:
- Chagas disease is a growing global health concern beyond its endemic regions.
- Effective management strategies are crucial for blood banks, transplant centers, and maternity wards in non-endemic areas.
- Public health initiatives must adapt to the changing epidemiology of Trypanosoma cruzi infections.
Outlook:
- Continued surveillance and implementation of control measures are essential in non-endemic countries.
- Further research into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for Chagas disease in diverse populations is needed.
- International collaboration is vital to address the global challenge of Chagas disease transmission and management.
Abstract:
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas disease infects ten million people in Latin America where it is the main cause of cardiac failure. It is transmitted by insect vectors in endemic areas, and also congenitally, by transfusion of infected blood, transplantation of infected organs and oral route in both endemic and non-endemic areas. Since the 1990s, a constant decrease of incidence of infection is observed in Latin America, where vector control programmes and improvement of blood banks have been implemented. However, the important migration flows in the last decades for economic reasons have brought considerable numbers of Latin American subjects infected with T. cruzi, in US, Europe, Japan and Australia. Such globalization of T. cruzi infection/Chagas disease has been confirmed in an WHO historical meeting in 2007, emphasizing the importance of a wise management of such patients and the need of implementing control measures in blood banks, transplantation centres and maternities of involved countries in non-endemic areas. This paper considers these elements and the present situation of Chagas disease in Europe and Belgium.
