Trypanosoma cruzi is a hemoflagellate that causes Chagas' disease. You can read more about T. cruzi here and here

 

Here are some questions about T. cruzi

  • Trypanosoma cruzi

    is endemic only to the Americas

    is transmitted by a "kissing bug"

    is transmitted as a metacyclic trypomastigote

    can infect many species of mammals

    can cause cardiac arhythmia
  • In Chagas' disease, there is frequently:

    destruction of the autonomic nerve ganglions

    a humoral and cell mediated immune response

    Immunosuppression due to induction of suppressor T-cells and/or over-stimulation of macrophages

    fevers that cycle at approximately seven day intervals

    unilateral conjunctivitis and orbital edema
   

Go here for more questions about diseases caused by trypanosomes

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