Abstract

HERRERA, Leidi. A review of reservoirs of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi (Chagas, 1909), the etiologic agent of Chagas Disease. Bol Mal Salud Amb [online]. 2010, vol.50, n.1, pp.3-15. ISSN 1690-4648.

Animal parasitoses, such as American trypanosomiasis or Chagas Disease, are principally enzootic diseases or zoonoses, in which humans, as the last step in the zoological chain, participate as accidental hosts in the transmission cycle. One of the great needs within the study of these parasitoses is to identify the hosts in each ecosystem where the disease is prevalent and determine their role as reservoirs. In this review, some of the issues and concepts covered by different authors in relation to primary and secondary mammalian hosts are discussed. A list of mammalian species that are naturally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, together with the original bibliographical references has been included.

Keywords : Reservoirs; Trypanosoma cruzi; Chagas disease.