What is the life cycle of T. cruzi?

The life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi involves two intermediate hosts: the invertebrate vector (triatomine insects) and the vertebrate host (humans) and has three developmental stages namely, trypomastigotes, amastigotes and epimastigotes [8].

How many stages of Chagas disease are there?

There are two phases of Chagas disease: the acute phase and the chronic phase. Both phases can be symptom free or life threatening.

How long does Trypanosoma cruzi live on surfaces?

cruzi-infected cells in the absence of cryoprotectant resulted in low cell and parasite viability within 24 h, but a small number of viable parasites were still observed.

What are the life cycle of Trypanosoma Gambiense?

Trypanosoma gambiense is digenetic; i.e., it completes its life cycle in two hosts. The primary or definitive host is man. The mammals, like pigs, buffaloes, antelopes often act as reservoir hosts harbouring the parasite. The intermediate host is blood sucking insect called tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis).

Is Chagas asymptomatic?

The chronic phase occurs when the parasite is found in the tissues and not the blood. Although most patients with chronic Chagas disease remain asymptomatic, 20% to 30% of infected people develop debili tating and sometimes life-threatening medical problems.

Where does Trypanosoma cruzi live?

It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors and is found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread).

Which lifecycle stage of Trypanosoma is infective to humans?

Within the vector, procyclic parasites proliferate and the parasite goes through transformations until reaching the metacyclic stage, i.e., the infective form for the human host.

What is the life cycle of a tsetse fly?

Female tsetse mate just once. After 7 – 9 days she produces a single egg which develops into a larva within her uterus. About nine days later, the mother produces a larva which burrows into the ground where it pupates. The mother continues to produce a single larva at roughly nine day intervals for her entire life.

What is the vector of Trypanosoma cruzi?

Rhodnius prolixus, a common vector of Trypanosoma cruzi. Eggs, first- and second-stage nymphs, and adult.

What kills Trypanosoma cruzi?

Nitric oxide is involved in control of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced parasitemia and directly kills the parasite in vitro. Infect Immun.

What is the life cycle of tsetse fly and Trypanosoma?

How is Trypanosoma cruzi transmitted?

The parasites multiply and differentiate in the midgut and differentiate into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes in the hindgut . Trypanosoma cruzi can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplantation, transplacentally, and in laboratory accidents.

How is the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi (triatomine bug) made?

Figure C: Triatomine bug, Trypanosoma cruzi vector, defecating on the wound after taking a blood meal. In the acute stage of the disease, diagnosis may be made by the finding of trypomastigotes in circulating blood or cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).

Are trypomastigotes of T cruzi found in human blood?

T. cruzi amastigotes in heart tissue. Trypomastigotes of T. cruzi are the only stage found circulating in human blood or CSF. In tissue, the parasite forms amastigotes characterized by a single nucleus and kinetoplast. The amastigotes of T. cruzi are morphologically indistinguishable from those of Leishmania spp.

How do you test for T cruzi?

At CDC molecular detection of T. cruzi DNA is performed using a combination of two real-time PCR assays (TCZ and MNC). Acceptable specimen types are EDTA blood (minimum of 2.2 ml), heart biopsy tissue (in saline or paraffin-embedded) and, in cases of suspected central nervous system involvement, CSF.