title: Chagas disease: the challenge of polyparasitism?
abstract: The debilitating zoonosis Chagas disease (CD) is caused by infection with the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. One century after its discovery, a curative agent remains elusive. Immune evasion by T. cruzi results in a poorly controlled infection in the host, which can end in either sudden death or a fatal chronic disease that often eventuates after years of an asymptomatic infection. Polyparasitism or mixed/concurrent infections occur more often than not and contribute to the high degree of variability observed across both disease progression and the success of therapeutic interventions. A thorough understanding of the effects of polyparasitism on CD is essential for improving the likelihood of containing, treating, and eventually eliminating CD.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia. Electronic address: C.Perez@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia; Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lymbery
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: R C Andrew
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D060085:Coinfection; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; drug discovery; polyparasitism