Trypanosoma cruzi

The worm like trypomastigote form has a slender form with a central nucleus and large kinetoplast (circular DNA inside a large mitochondrian)

• Curved, usually S or U shaped
• Worms are uniform in size

Clinically

• Causes Chagas disease, think big heart (cardiomyopathy), big gut (enlarged colon/oesphagus)
• Acute and chronic disease can occur
• In the acute disease, Romaña’s sign is caused by eyelid swelling from their entry
• Found in southern USA and Latin America

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