Chagas disease is a potentially life threatening condition that was historically mainly endemic to Latin America. Over the last decade, however, the disease has spread to and is increasingly prevalent in other continents such as North America and Europe, with an estimated 7 million people infected worldwide. It is primarily transmitted by insect vectors that carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the disease agent. In areas where there is vector control and in non-endemic countries, it is mainly transmitted via congenital infection. Cardiac and gastrointestinal complications are common in untreated individuals. This book offers a comprehensive overview of Chagas disease, including its vectorial and congenital transmission, and molecular diagnosis, which is essential for screening, and developing and providing timely, effective anti-trypanosomal treatment. Written by experts working with infected patients on a daily basis, it discusses the pathogenesis of congenital, cardiac, gastrointestinal and oral Chagas disease, as well as its treatment and the pharmacological aspects of drug development in this area. Chapter "Chagas Disease Treatment Efficacy Biomarkers: Myths and Realities" is available open access under a via link.springer.com.

Chagas disease causes severe socioeconomic impact and a high medical cost in Latin America. WHO and the World Bank consider Chagas disease as the fourth most transmittable disease to have a major impact on public health in Latin America: 120 million persons are potentially exposed, 16 to 18 million of whom are presently infected, causing 45,000 to 50,000 deaths per year. It has been calculated that approximately 2.4 million potential working years are lost because of incapacity and mortality due to the disease, for an annual cost estimated at 20 billion Euros. American Trypanosomiasis provides a comprehensive overview of Chagas disease and discusses the latest discoveries concerning the three elements that compose the transmission chain of the disease: The host: human and mammalian reservoirs The insect vectors: domestic and sylvatic vectors The causative parasite: Trypanosoma cruzi Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field Contributions from leading authorities and industry experts

This report of a WHO Expert Committee reviews current knowledge of Chagas disease and its pathogenesis discusses the causative parasite the triatomine vectors and the natural reservoirs of infection and considers the epidemiology and incidence trends of the disease. Prevention and control strategies are described as are the various formal initiatives for interruption of disease transmission. The report concludes by identifying priorities for research and offering guidance for the planning implementation and strengthening of national control programmes. ... this book makes an extremely valuable contribution toward understanding Chagas disease and promoting solid prevention and control efforts. It will no doubt be an important addition to the library of anyone student and expert alike with interests in Chagas disease. The authors are to be congratulated on the completion of a work of excellence - an extremely difficult endeavour at a time when our knowledge of vectors parasites and methodologies is expanding so rapidly. - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The Disease Reference Group on Chagas Disease Human AfricanTrypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis (DRG3) was part of an independent thinktankof international experts established by the Special Programme for Researchand Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) to identify key research prioritiesthrough systematic review of research evidence and input from stakeholders. These three distinct insect-borne diseases while caused by related kinetoplastidprotozoan pathogens have dissimilar geographical distributions a reflection oftheir different insect vectors and range of vector contact with humans. Thedisease.