Potential novel risk factors for autochthonous and sylvatic transmission of human Chagas disease in the United States

Parasit Vectors. 2014 Jul 4:7:311. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-311.

Abstract

Chagas disease is an emerging vector-borne disease in the United States that causes progressive dilated cardiomyopathy in a third of infected humans. While transmission studies have been performed in Latin America, little is known about the source of infection in locally acquired cases in the United States. This letter describes the underlying factors possibly leading to an increased risk of disease transmission among high-risk groups in the United States.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution
  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Chagas Disease / epidemiology*
  • Chagas Disease / transmission*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / epidemiology*
  • Communicable Diseases, Emerging / transmission*
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
  • Human Activities
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology
  • Insect Vectors / physiology
  • Recreation
  • Risk Factors
  • Triatoma / parasitology
  • Triatoma / physiology*
  • United States / epidemiology