​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - American Trypanosomiasis ( Trypanosoma cruzi)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - American Trypanosomiasis ( Trypanosoma cruzi) 
Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasitic organism that resides in the blood and tissues and possesses a whip-like structure called a flagellum.
Tissue morphology: amastigote (lacking flagella). Blood morphology: trypomastigote (possessing a flagellum).
 Mammals and humans act as reservoirs. The vector is the Triatoma insect, sometimes known as the "kissing bug". The infective form is introduced when the feces of an infected bug, which are deposited during feeding, are rubbed into the conjunctiva, the bite site, or a skin break. The prevalence of the disease is primarily observed in Mexico, as well as in Central and South America.
The clinical manifestation of T cruzi infection results in American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas disease. This condition is defined by the presence of an erythematous chagoma, which appears on the face or arms at the site of the insect bite. In cases when the infection occurs in the eye, symptoms such as edema, conjunctivitis, and the development of local lymphadenopathy, known as the Romaña sign, may occur. The disease is marked by symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and enlargement of the liver and spleen. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, inflammation of the heart muscle, enlargement of the esophagus, and enlargement of the colon.

 After entering the host, trypomastigotes travel through the bloodstream and have the ability to infect various tissues, such as muscle, heart, and glial cells. Upon entering the cell, the amastigote form undergoes development, replication, and ultimately causes the demise of the cell, leading to the liberation of parasites capable of infiltrating further cells.

 Trypomastigote forms can be identified in both thick and thin blood films during the acute phase of the disease. For persistent infections, which have a low level of parasites in the blood, it is recommended to recover the parasites by growing them on a specific medium or by identifying them by xenodiagnosis. Xenodiagnosis involves allowing a non-infected reduviid bug to feed on the patient and get infected.

The acute phase of the disease can be managed using either nifurtimox or benznidazole. Prevention entails refraining from coming into contact with reduviid insects.