Canine Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis) in North America.
Chagas' disease, or American trypanosomiasis, caused by the hemoflagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (class Zoomastigophorea and family Trypanosomatidae), is the leading cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in man. In dogs in North America, Chagas disease mainly occurs in working dogs in southeastern Texas. It is likely that most dogs become infected by eating infected vectors, causing the release of the organisms into the mouth of the host. Most dogs are diagnosed during the chronic stage of the disease, which is typified by dilated cardiomyopathy and malignant ventricular-based arrhythmias. This article reviews the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and available therapy for Chagas' disease in dogs.
Barr
Stephen C
SC
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. scb6@cornell.edu
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D007303:Insect Vectors; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D011576:Psychodidae
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents