Trypanosoma cruzi
From DrugPedia: A Wikipedia for Drug discovery
Trypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi is a species of parasitic euglenoid trypanosomes. It was first described by Carlos Chagas in Brasil in 1909. The infection, Chagas' disease, is caused by the haemoflagellate Trypanosoma cruzi.
| Domain | Eukarya |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Protista |
| Phylum | Sarcomastigophora |
| Class | Zoomastigophorea |
| Order | Kinetoplastida |
| Genus | Trypanosoma |
| Species | T. cruzi |
| Binomial | Trypanosoma cruzi |
Transmission
Transmission occurs when the reduviid bug deposits feces on the skin surface and subsequently bites; the human host then scratches the bite area which facilitates penetration of the infected feces.
Pathogenic Activity
Protozoan parasites within the species Trypanosoma cruzi are responsible for New World Trypanosomiasis or Chaga's disease.
