Eurosurveillance invites authors to submit papers for a special issue on Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in Europe.

The disease, historically limited to endemic countries in Latin America, has spread globally in the past decades due to increased worldwide migration and is emerging as an important public health problem also in Europe. Transmission in Europe does not occur by vectors, but through blood transfusion, transplantation, or from mother to child. While the numbers of cases in European countries are still comparatively small, the challenge lies in finding a practicable way of identifying blood and organs donations from donors infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, as well as in treating chronic and congenital cases.

The aim of this special issue is to provide a comprehensive source of scientific information on Chagas disease from a European point of view, identifying the extent of the problem in Europe and possible responses, that will stimulate and guide public health interventions. We invite interested scientists to share their findings and submit original papers for peer-review and possible publication.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Surveillance reports illustrating the presence and extent of Chagas disease in different European countries;
• Reports describing already implemented public health measures and discussing their value;
• Studies on screening, detection, diagnosis or management of Chagas disease undertaken for example in individual hospitals or in particular risk groups;
• Other research activities around the topic.

A general review will present the background of the disease, pathogen, endemic areas, ways of transmission, available diagnostics and treatment. Individual articles would focus on specific aspects without repeating the introductive part.

The submission deadline is 30 November 2010. If you would like to submit an article or ask for more information, please contact: eurosurveillance@ecdc.europa.eu