Chaga's disease is caused by: September 2011

Ans. B: T. cruzi T. cruzi causes American trypanosomiasis or Chaga's disease Chagas disease/American trypanosomiasis It is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi is commonly transmitted to humans and other mammals by an insect vector, the blood-sucking insects of the subfamily Triatominae (family Reduviidae) most commonly species belonging to the Triatoma, Rhodnius, and Panstrongylus genera. The disease may also be spread through blood transfusion and organ transplantation, ingestion of food contaminated with parasites, and from a mother to her fetus. In the early, acute stage, symptoms are mild and usually produce no more than local swelling at the site of infection. The initial acute phase is responsive to antiparasitic treatments, with 60-90% cure rates. After 4-8 weeks, individuals with active infections enter the chronic phase of Chagas disease that is asymptomatic for 60-80% of chronically infected individuals through their lifetime. The currently available antiparasitic treatments for Chagas disease are benznidazole and nifuimox, which can cause temporary side effects in many patients including skin disorders, brain toxicity, and digestive system irritation.