Chagas Disease

Chagas disease: an unknown and neglected disease.- Chagas disease epidemiology: from Latin America to the world.- Challenges in Chagas disease control trough transmission routes- A social approach to people at risk of having Chagas disease: a first step to improve access to comprehensive care.- Diagnosis of T. cruzi infection: challenges on laboratory test development and applications.- Diagnosis of Chagas disease: Are clinical definitions of heart and digestive involvement accurate enough?.- Aetiologic treatment: old drugs and new insights.- No etiologic treatment for chronic Chagas disease: new therapeutic options and challenges in its use in endemic and non- endemic countries.- Challenges in response to treatment evaluation and progression of the disease.- Access to a comprehensive care in Chagas disease: a global effort.- A parasitic infection in an immunosuppressed host.- People voices.

This book provides a comprehensive resource on various aspects of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and the neglected tropical disease Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis), the disorder resulting from infection with the parasite. Topics include the biological description and taxonomy of the parasite, epidemiology and transmission routes, laboratory techniques in use when working with the parasite, as well as diagnostic measures and treatment of Chagas disease. Furthermore, a chapter with life stories of people in contact with the disease in endemic as well as non-endemic countries is included.

The book is therefore a valuable source for individuals engaged in basic research as well as patient care and health management related to American trypanosomiasis.

Maria-Jesus Pinazo Delgado and Joaquim Gascon are both researchers at the IS Global (Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona), the Institute of Global Health in Barcelona.