Possible Chagas's Disease in United States

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Abstract
To the Editor: The report of Rivero et al. (N Engl J Med 290:285, 1974) of recrudescence of latent Trypanosoma cruzi infections in patients with American trypanosomiasis (Chagas's disease) who receive antimetabolites for treatment of leukemia deserves comment. Similar incidents may, although rarely, occur in this country and, if they do, are likely to go unrecognized.Chagas's disease, acquired in the United States, has been diagnosed by recovery of the parasite in only two patients.1 , 2 However, 10 additional cases (1.6 per cent of patients tested) have been detected by complement-fixation testing in an endemic area of South Texas.3 , 4 The disease . . .