Evidence of Autochthonous Chagas Disease in Southeastern Texas

Abstract

Abstract. Autochthonous transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in the United States is rarely reported. Here, we describe five newly identified patients with autochthonously acquired infections from a small pilot study of positive blood donors in southeast Texas. Case-patients 1-4 were possibly infected near their residences, which were all in the same regioñ 100 miles west of Houston. Case-patient 5 was a young male with considerable exposure from routine outdoor and camping activities associated with a youth civic organization. Only one of the five autochthonous case-patients received anti-parasitic treatment. Our findings suggest an unrecognized risk of human vector-borne transmission in southeast Texas. Education of physicians and public health officials is crucial for identifying the true disease burden and source of infection in Texas.

Reservoir host competence and the role of domestic and commensal hosts in the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi

“…In the virtual absence of established (peri)domestic infestations, dogs most likely became infected with T. cruzi from contact with sylvatic triatomines or from eating infected wild hosts. Evidence of both frequent house invasion by infected triatomines during late spring in the same region (Reisenman et al, 2012) and rare autochthonous human cases of T. cruzi infection with a putative vector origin (Garcia et al, 2015) suggests seasonal disease threats to dogs. How these threats translate into actual human risk and T. cruzi infection depend on the vulnerability of housing to bug invasion, householders' awareness, and their bug control practices.…”

Developments in the management of Chagas cardiomyopathy

“…In recent years, autochthonous cases of Chagas disease have been reported in the US, especially along the southern border with Mexico. [1,2] Due to increased immigration, individuals with Chagas disease have been identified in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan. [3–5]…”

What Do We Know About Chagas Disease in the United States?

“…Another 21 cases of likely autochthonous T. cruzi infection were identified in these two studies, bringing the total number of documented infections acquired in the United States to 28 during 1955-2015. 15,16 Blood donor screening has opened a window into understanding the geographic distribution of chronically infected people in the United States, and may help to direct public health efforts to improve diagnosis and management for those at risk for the manifestations of chronic Chagas disease. Although blood donors can be a relatively easily accessed study population, blood donor studies have important limitations.…”