Important Takeaways:
Pathogenesis:
-Inflammation, neurogenic disturbances, microvascular derangements, progressive fibrosis and heart failure.
Clinical Symptoms
Acute phase:
-Intense parasitemia, high grade tissue parasitism, collapse, arrhythmias/pericardial effusion, lymphadenopathy, neurological signs, fever, death
Chronic (majority of Chagas cases):
-Low grade intermittent parasitemia, (slow) progressive fibrosing myocarditis, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, weight loss, acute death, asymptomatic
Oral transmission:
-Higher parasite load and increased mortality rate.
Congenital transmission:
-Neonatal death
-Failure to thrive
Human Chagas disease:
-Risk factors include cohabitation with domestic animals such as chickens and dogs
-Direct correlation between dogs and humans with T. Cruzi antibody
-No reports of dog-human transmission
Diagnostics:
-Serology (21 days post infection)
*IFA (Gold standard)