Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and irregular somnolence. The organism produces
a chemical, tryptophol, known to induce sleep. Untreated cases are often fatal.
Trypanosoma cruzi
is the cause of Chagas disease, also known as American
trypanosomiasis. Chagas disease occurs almost exclusively in Central and
South America. It affects about 8 million people [74]. Its intermediate host and
vector is any of several species of the Triatominae subclass of Class Reduviiae
insects. These blood-sucking triatomes are sometimes called kissing bugs, as
they often bite the face, near the mouth. The triatome bug has a choice of about
100 different animals that serve as reservoirs for
Trypanosoma cruzi
.Infections
have been known to occur following transfusion with contaminated blood.
Trypansoma cruzi
produces an intracellular amastigote stage, and it is
the amastigote that preferentially infects neurons of the peripheral nervous
system. Infection of neurons in the wall of the heart can lead to conduction
abnormalities, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and ventricular aneurysms.
Infection of the neurons in the colon can lead to aganglionic megacolon.
Infectious species:
Leishmania aethiopica
species complex:
Leishmania aethiopica
(cutaneous
leishmaniasis)
Leishmania amazonensis
(cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Leishmania brasiliensis
(leishmaniasis)
Leishmania chagasi
(visceral leishmaniasis)
Leishmania donovani
(visceral leishmaniasis)
Leishmania infantum
(visceral leishmaniasis)
Leishmania major
(cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Leishmania mexicana
(cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Leishmania peruviana
(leishmaniasis)
Leishmania tropica
(cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Leishmania venezualensis
(cutaneous leishmaniasis)
Leishmania
Viannia
brasiliensis
(leishmaniasis)
Leishmania
Viannia
guyayensis
(leishmaniasis)
Leishmania
Viannia
panamensis
(leishmaniasis)
Trypanosoma cruzi
(American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease)
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
(African trypanosomiasis, sleeping sickness)
Trypanosoma brucei
rhodesiense
(African trypanosomiasis,
sleeping
sickness)
