Is Trypanosoma cruzi a parasite?

Is Trypanosoma cruzi a Parasite?

Yes, Trypanosoma cruzi is definitively a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), a neglected tropical disease endemic to Latin America. 1

Organism Classification

• T. cruzi is a flagellate protozoan parasite that infects approximately 7 million people worldwide, causing an estimated 10,000 deaths annually. 1

• The parasite is endemic in 21 Latin American countries and has spread to non-endemic regions including the United States and Europe through migration. 1, 2

Transmission Mechanisms

• Primary transmission occurs through blood-sucking reduviid bugs (family Reduviidae), including species such as Rhodnius prolixus, Panstrongylus megistus, and Triatoma infestans. 2, 3

• Non-vector transmission routes include:

  • Vertical (mother-to-child) transmission 1, 2
  • Blood transfusion and organ transplantation 2, 3
  • Oral contact (rare) 1, 2
  • Accidental laboratory infections 3

Clinical Significance

• After acute infection, the parasite establishes chronic infection in approximately 30-40% of untreated patients, who may develop life-threatening cardiac or gastrointestinal complications 10-30 years later. 2, 4

• Cardiac involvement occurs in 19% of infected individuals and represents the most serious manifestation, making Chagas disease the leading cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America. 2, 4

• In immunosuppressed patients (HIV, transplant recipients, autoimmune disease), the parasite can reactivate with high parasitemia levels, leading to severe manifestations and potentially fatal outcomes. 1