Trypanosoma cruzi

Patent Granted Trypanosoma cruzi is a species of parasitic euglenoid protozoan. Amongst the protozoa, the trypanosomes characteristically bore tissue in another organism and feed on blood, and lymph. This behaviour causes disease or the likelihood of disease that varies with the organism: for example, trypanosomiasis in humans (Chagas disease in South America and sleeping sickness in Africa), dourine and surra in horses, and a brucellosis-like disease in cattle. Parasites need a host body and the haematophagous insect triatomine (descriptions "assassin bug", "cone-nose bug", and "kissing bug") is the major vector in accord with a mechanism of infection.