Transmission of Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis) by Food

Conocimientos y factores de riesgo relacionados con la enfermedad de Chagas en dos comunidades panameñas donde Rhodnius pallescens es el vector principal

“…Es importante mencionar que la transmisión por alimentos o bebidas contaminadas era muy poco conocida en ambas comunidades. En algunas regiones de Suramérica esta vía de transmisión es frecuente (20,21), ya que los insectos vectores pueden depositar sus heces en alimentos o bebidas en donde el parásito permanece infeccioso por mucho tiempo. Las Pavas y Lagartera Grande son comunidades rurales que, debido a las condiciones físicas de las viviendas y los métodos tradicionales de preparación de alimentos dentro y fuera del domicilio, son vulnerables a la contaminación con T. cruzi.…”

Climate change and food safety: A review

“…American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) is caused by an intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi which is transmitted by triatomine bugs and its distribution is limited to the Americas. Foodborne transmission of trypanosomiasis in the Americas have been reported since the mid 20th century (Pereira et al, 2010). If indoor temperatures rise, vector species in the domestic environment may develop shorter lifecycles and higher population densities (Carcavallo & Curto de Casas, 1996).…”

“…High temperatures also accelerate development of the pathogen, T. cruzi, in the vector (Asin & Catala, 1995). The outbreak of foodborne transmitted trypanosomiasis reported in Brazil in 2005 was associated with ingestion of sugar cane juice that was found to be contaminated with crushed Triatoma infestans, the vector of trypanosomiasis in Brazil (Pereira et al, 2010). Outbreaks of foodborne transmitted trypanosomiasis have been associated with contaminated juice in Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia (Pereira et al, 2010).…”

Analysis of the Approach to Parasitic Cycles in Brazilian Science Textbooks as a Tool for Education in Health and Environment

“…While most teachers and authors only know that Chagas disease is transmitted by the bite of an insect, a new form of contagion has recently been described by means of a food widely consumed by the Brazilian population. Even though this new form was only scientifically reported by Pereira et al (2010), since 2006 there has been a suspicion that Chagas disease could be transmitted also by açaí consumption.…”