Chagas disease: a new worldwide challenge

摘要

Human American trypanosomia-sis (Chagas disease), along with its causal agent Trypanosoma (Schizo-trypanum) cruzi, which was discovered by Carlos Chagas in Brazil in 1909, has existed in the Americas as an enzootic disease (that is, a disease of wild animals) for millions of years. Vectors mainly from the genera Triatoma, Panstrongylus and Rhodnius (Hemi-ptera; Reduviidae), but also from 12 other genera, have been transmitting the disease among animals for almost 10 million years.