Chagas Disease

​​​Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis is a tropical parasitic disease, common in rural areas of Mexico and Central and South America, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. ​The parasite is spread mostly by insects in the subfamily Triatominae, known as “kissing bugs." 

Trypanosoma cruzi ​is spread to humans and other mammals by the bug's infected feces entering a wound. Chagas disease may also be spread through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, vertic​al transmission from mother to her offspring, and food contaminated with the parasites.

During the early stages of Chagas disease, patients may show mild symptoms (fever, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting, eyelid swelling).  Chronic infection can lead to serious heart, digestive, or nervous system complications. Diagnosis and treatments are available to manage Chagas disease.

Although Trypanosoma cruzi has been detected in West Virginia kissing bugs, the risk for local transmission of Chagas disease to West Virginia residents is low. The closest incident of local transmission of Chagas disease to humans was from a Tennessee resident in 1998.

Community 

CDC:  Chagas Disease:  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/about/index.html

CDC:  Information on Species of Triatomine Bugs in the United States:  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/hcp/species/index.html

Healthcare Providers 

CDC: Clinical Testing and Diagnostics for Chagas Disease:  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html

CDC: Clinical Care of Chagas Disease:  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/hcp/clinical-care/index.html

CDC: Clinical Considerations for Congenital Chagas Disease:  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/hcp/considerations/index.html

CDC: Chagas Disease in the U. S. (What United States Health Care Providers Need to Know About Chagas Disease):  https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/hcp/chagas-disease/index.html

Data and Surveillance 

CDC: Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States:  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/9/24-1700_article

WVDH: Geographic Distribution of the Eastern Bloodsucking Conenose (Triatoma sanguisuga) and Trypanosma cruzi Infection in Kissing Bugs in West Virginia

Testing

CDC: DPDx Laboratory Identification of Parasites of Public Health Concern: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/contact.html 

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