Agudelo Higuita Nelson Iván, Beatty Norman L, Forsyth Colin, Henao-Martínez Andrés F, Manne-Goehler Jennifer
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Instituto de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitología Antonio Vidal, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Lancet Reg Health Am. 2024 May 17;34:100768. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100768. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan , is a highly overlooked parasitic infection within the United States. It affects an estimated 300,000 individuals, often remaining asymptomatic for years before triggering severe complications such as cardiomyopathy in 30-40% of cases. While many contract the disease in Latin America, its transmission by local vectors in the southern U.S. presents a significant challenge. Unfortunately, limited access to diagnosis and treatment persists, alongside unresolved gaps in healthcare systems and disease pathogenesis. In this viewpoint, we discuss the need for focused research and public health initiatives, with U.S. research institutions playing a crucial role in developing new treatments and identifying biomarkers. Furthermore, investigating the genetic variations of between North and South America is vital for improving diagnostic and treatment strategies. Urgent action is required to implement national and local programs, bolstering healthcare responses and advancing research efforts.Q4As per journal style section heading 'Introduction' is mandatory, hence we have introduced the heading. Please check, and correct if necessary.ResolvedQ5If there are any drug dosages in your article, please verify them and indicate that you have done so by initialing this query.ResolvedQ6Please supply the year of publication.ResolvedFootnoteView Edit Log9.
恰加斯病由原生动物引起,是美国一种极易被忽视的寄生虫感染病。据估计,该病影响着30万人,许多人在引发严重并发症(如30%至40%的病例会出现心肌病)之前,往往多年没有症状。虽然许多人在拉丁美洲感染此病,但美国南部当地病媒的传播构成了重大挑战。不幸的是,诊断和治疗的机会仍然有限,医疗系统和疾病发病机制方面的差距也尚未解决。在本文中,我们讨论了开展重点研究和公共卫生倡议的必要性,美国研究机构在开发新疗法和识别生物标志物方面发挥着关键作用。此外,研究南北美洲之间该原生动物的基因变异对于改进诊断和治疗策略至关重要。需要采取紧急行动来实施国家和地方项目,加强医疗应对并推进研究工作。