The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chagas' disease \Chagas' disease\ n. [Carlos Chagas, a physician
in Brazil, 1879-1934]
a form of trypanosomiasis caused by infection with
Trypamosoma cruzi, found principally in South America. It
is transmitted by certain species of reduviid bugs, and has
natural reservoirs in dogs, armadillos, rodents and other
domestic and wild mammals.
--Stedman's Med. Dict.,
--Dorland's Illustr. Med. Dict.
Syn: South Amercian trypanosomiasis, Chagas-Cruz disease.
Wiktionary
n. (context disease English) A form of trypanosomiasis prevalent in South America, caused by the parasitic trypanosome (w: T. cruzi). It is transmitted to many mammals such as humans through insect bites, mainly by kissing bugs. Symptoms include fever, oedema, cardiomyopathy, and enlargement of the spleen and lymph nodes. It can be fatal.
Usage examples of "chagas' disease".
Guinea pigs may have contributed a trypanosome infection like Chagas' disease or leishmaniasis to our catalog of woes, but that's uncertain.