Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/08/26

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Subject: [Leica] El Corcho - parasites again!
From: Marty Deveney <sealpup@sharkattacks.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 16:42:40 -0700 (PDT)

>chagas bug, a parasite which causes a fatal heart disease.

The bug doesn't cause the disease, it merely vectors it.   
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/chagasdisease/factsht_chagas_disease.htm

The critical life cycle step is the bug to human phase, which is accomplished by stercorarian transmission: the Chagas disease-infected bug bites you and then defecates.  The bug faeces contains the infective stage of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent.  Of course the bug bite itches, so the person scratches.  The bug faeces and infective stages get rubbed into the bite, an eye, or other mucus membrane and hey presto - another case of Chagas disease.

The long-term cardiac complications occur in about 30% of infections.  Another unfortunate long-term effect is megacolon.  As to what that means, imagine for yourself.


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Replies: Reply from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] El Corcho - parasites again!)