SGPP | Chagas' Disease

American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas' Disease) has the potential to infect around 100 million people in twenty-one Central and South American countries. This unicellular parasite is transmitted by the Reduviid bug in rural areas or by blood transfusion. In Santa Cruz, Bolivia more than 50% of blood donors are reported to be infected. Current World Health Organization (WHO) estimates show that 16 to 18 million people are infected. Additionally, migration has brought infected persons into major world-wide cities and the United States. Like most trypanosomids, these organisms display antigenic variation and are easily resistant to drugs. The current drug treatments are toxic to humans.

Organism	Trypanosoma cruzi
At Risk	100 million - Central and South America
Humans Infected	16-18 million
Disease Outcome	10-30% die of complications after decades of infection
Vaccine Prospects	Poor due to antigenic variation
Available Drugs	Only one - toxic and ineffective
Drug Resistance	Suspected

General information: Medline, World Health Organization