The disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted via triatomine bugs is known as?

• A. Chagas disease
• B. Malaria
• C. Toxoplasmosis
• D. Leishmaniasis

Answer: (A)

Think about the organism and how it’s spread. Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite whose classic vector is the triatomine bug, often called a kissing bug. Transmission occurs when the bug feeds on a person and defecates near the bite; the parasite enters through the bite wound or mucous membranes. This leads to a disease named Chagas disease, which can start with a mild acute phase but may progress to chronic heart problems or digestive tract issues like megaesophagus or megacolon. The disease is historically associated with Latin America, and the name honors Carlos Chagas, who described the parasite, vector, and disease together. Other options refer to different parasites and transmission routes: malaria is caused by Plasmodium and spread by Anopheles mosquitoes; toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, often acquired from undercooked meat or cat feces; leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania and transmitted by sandflies.