History, Epidemiology, and Risk Factors

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who first described the disease in 1909.

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.

Infection can result from:

• Vectorborne transmission
• Congenital transmission
• Transfusion of contaminated blood products
• Transplantation of an organ from an infected donor
• Laboratory accidents (rare)
• Foodborne transmission (rare)

The major transmission route is vectorborne. Infection is acquired through contact with the feces of an infected triatomine bug (or kissing bug), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals. The image on the right shows one species of triatomine bug.

Female Triatoma gerstaeckeri next to a penny for scale. Credit: S. Kjos.