1. Chagas Disease
Will yokeley

2. Disease Quick Facts Named after Dr. Carlos Chagas who discovered it.
Estimated 8-10 million people infected worldwide.
Approximately 14,000 deaths annually.
Trypanosoma cruzi
300,000 cases in the US.

3. How Infection Occurs Type of home conducive to Triatomine Bugs
Would bite be itchy if protozoan wasn’t transmitted (non-infected bug). Cut text as much as possible…maybe have picture of thatched roof house instead of writing where it lives.
Triatomine Bug
Live under floor boards, cement, rocks, unsealed houses.
Human infection from feces of the bug!
Process of infection:
Type of home conducive to Triatomine Bugs
Triatomine Bug

4. Biology of the Disease Molecular bio of parasite entry into cells.
Armadillos, raccoons, opossums and other rodents are reservoirs for trypanosome cruzi in the wild. Triatomine bugs ingest parasite when they bite these creatures and then transfer to human in their feces.

5. Disease Symptoms Fever Fatigue Body aches Headache Rash
Swelling at parasite entry
Fever
Fatigue
Body aches
Headache
Rash
Loss of appetite
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Do the protozoans prefer a cell to enter? Why does the skin swell? Romana sign is caused by conjunctival swelling at the eye from the triatomine bug feces being rubbed in.
Romaña Sign

6. Diagnosis and Progression
Amount of chronically infected people?
Trypanosoma cruzi blood smear.
Instead of text, use pictures of complications.
Acute phase=2-8 weeks
Latent phase=10-20 years
Chronic phase=20-30% of cases, occurs after latent phase.
Cardiomegaly
Trypanosoma cruzi blood smear
Megacolon

7. Treatment and Survival
Look for mechanisms: Not known.
Benznidazole dosage: 2 times daily for 60 days (pills)
Nifurmitox dosage: 3-4 times daily for 90 days (pills)
Side effects are very common (25-30% of cases), especially in older patients. This affects the amount of patients who complete the regimen of treatment.
Both drugs are on the WHO essential medicines list.

8. Figure 1
Article from November 2013, very recent.
Figure 3
Figure 2

9. Summary of Findings

10. Prevention and Moving Forward
Vaccine. Do dogs get chagas? 2/3 background. 1/3 article that investigates Chagas. Working on a vaccine using T. cruzi antigens.

11. Sources http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/