Patricia Dorn, Ph.D. A Brief Summary of Chagas Disease and its
Natural Transmission in the United States First human case of
insect-transmitted Chagas parasite found in Louisiana Chagas
disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. The
parasite is carried by Reduviid bugs commonly called cone-nosed
bugs or kissing bugs because they feed at night so tend to feed
on the face, usually uncovered at night. The parasite is found
in the feces of the bug and the person may become infected if he
or she is contaminated by the parasite-containing feces. One can
also become infected by blood transfusion, organ transplant or
congenitally (from mother to child during pregnancy or birth) or
by food or water contaminated with bug feces. Rarely, and
usually in children, there may be symptoms shortly following
infection (called the acute phase). Usually symptoms (heart
disease in the U.S., Mexico and Central America ) take 10-40
years to develop (during the chronic phase) and 20-40% of
infected people will eventual