title: Chagas disease. American trypanosomiasis.
abstract: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major source of morbidity and death in Latin America. Many infected immigrants from that region now reside in the United States, posing a risk of transfusion-associated transmission of the organism. Serologic testing is the cornerstone of diagnosing chronic T. cruzi infections, and improved assays are needed. Drug treatment is problematic because the two available drugs can have severe side effects and lack efficacy. T. cruzi infection can be particularly severe in immunosuppressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006321:Heart / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007757:Laboratory Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D051379:Mice; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D009547:Nifurtimox; C009999:benzonidazole