Las Infecciones Parasitarias Comunes

Billions of people on our planet live with an ever-present threat of these unseen organisms that impact their lives in harmful ways.

Common Neglected Parasitic Infections

There are billions of individuals who suffer from parasitic infections, and who have little hope of improving their lives without major public health intervention strategies — many of which emanate from outside the borders of the countries in which they live. Their lives are burdened with despair, anticipating illness and even eventual death caused by these unseen organisms. Because of the world into which they were born, these are realities that they simply are forced to accept — such as contaminated food and water — which are essentials that they have no choice but to consume because there are no alternatives. They run a daily risk of infection from organisms that can cause them great harm, and these infectious agents are ever-present. They know no borders.

Anopheles

Malaria

Globally in 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths in 83 countries.

Trypanosoma gambiense blood smear

Tripanosomiasis
africana

Sustained control efforts have reduced the number of new cases by 97% in the last 20 years, with under 1,000 cases in 2022 (compared to 300,000 cases in 1995). For the period 2016–2020, the population at risk was 55 million people, with only 3 million at moderate-high risk. The WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap is targeting 2030 as the interruption of transmission (zero cases).

Trypanosoma cruzi parasite which causes Chagas disease

Tripanosomiasis
americana

More than 7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypansosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

Promastigotes of Leishmania parasite which cause leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis

Las leishmaniasis son un grupo de enfermedades causadas por parásitos protozoarios de más de 20 Leishmania species. These parasites are transmitted to humans by the bites of the infected female phlebotomine sandfly. An estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually.

3d rendered medically accurate illustration of a schistosoma

Esquistosomiasis

Estimates show that at least 251.4 million people required preventive treatment for schistosomiasis in 2021, out of which more than 75.3 million were reported to have been treated.

Ascariasis is a disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides

Ascariasis

Infección por Ascaris debido a A. lumbricoides occurs worldwide; an estimated 772–892 million people globally are infected.

Parasitic hookworm Ancylosoma duodenale in human duodenum

Anquilostoma

Hookworm is an intestinal parasite most commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, particularly in Africa, South East Asia, the Western Pacific, Latin America and the Mediterranean. They infect roughly 406 – 480 million people globally.

Egg of parasitic roundworm Trichuris trichiura

Tricuriasis

The whipworm parasite, Trichuris trichiura, is a soil-transmitted helminth. Globally, whipworms infect an estimated 429 – 508 million people.

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top

Malaria

Globally in 2023, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria deaths in 83 countries. Africa was home to 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths. Children under 5 accounted for about 76% of all malaria deaths.

  • Anopheles

    La malaria se transmite a través de las mordeduras de las mujeres Anopheles mosquitoes.

  • Plasmodium falciparum inside red blood cells

    Plasmodium falciparum inside red blood cells.

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top
  • Tsetse Fly

    Las moscas tsetsé son los vectores biológicos de los tripanosomas.

  • Trypanosoma gambiense blood smear

    Trypanosoma gambiense frotis de sangre

Tripanosomiasis Africana

Sustained control efforts have reduced the number of new cases of African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) by 97% in the last 20 years, with under 1,000 cases in 2022 (compared to 300,000 cases in 1995). It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. For the period 2016–2020, the population at risk was 55 million people, with only 3 million at moderate-high risk. The WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap targeted for 2020 its elimination as a public health problem, and for 2030 the interruption of transmission (zero cases).

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top

Trypanosomiasis Americana

More than 7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypansosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, leading to more than 10,000 deaths every year. Today, more than 100 million people are considered at risk of infection.

  • Kissing bugs

    Bichos besándose son vectores del parásito de la enfermedad de Chagas Trypanosoma cruzi.

  • Trypanosoma cruzi parasite which causes Chagas disease

    Trypanosoma cruzi parásito que causa la enfermedad de Chagas

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top
  • Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly

    Phlebotomus papatasi sandflies son los vectores primarios de la leishmaniasis.

  • Promastigotes of Leishmania parasite which cause leishmaniasis

    Promastigotes of Leishmania parasite which cause leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis

The leishmaniases are a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from more than 20 Leishmania species. An estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases occur annually.

Leishmaniasis Visceral,also known as kala-azar, is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases. Most cases occur in Brazil, east Africa and India. An estimated 50,000 to 90,000 new cases occur worldwide annually, with only 25–45% reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Leishmaniasis cutánea is the most common form of leishmaniasis and causes skin lesions, mainly ulcers, on exposed parts of the body, leaving life-long scars and serious disability. About 95% of CL cases occur in the Americas, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and Central Asia. It is estimated that 600,000 to 1 million new cases occur worldwide annually but only around 200,000 are reported to WHO.

Leishmaniasis mucocutánealeads to the partial or total destruction of mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat. Over 90% of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis cases occur in Bolivia (the Plurinational State of), Brazil, Ethiopia and Peru.

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top

Esquistosomiasis

Estimates show that at least 251.4 million people required preventive treatment for schistosomiasis in 2021, out of which more than 75.3 million were reported to have been treated. Schistosomiasis transmission has been reported from 78 countries, and is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. It is estimated that at least 90% of those requiring treatment for schistosomiasis live in Africa.

  • 3d rendered medically accurate illustration of a schistosoma

    El esquistosoma adulto El gusano plano parasitario es responsable por esquistosomiasis infecciones.

  • Biomphalaria fresh water Snail vector of Schistosomiasis

    Las larvas deben pasar a través de un caracol intermediario huésped.

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top
  • Eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides roundworm in stool

    Huevos de Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm) in stool

  • Ascariasis is a disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides

    La ascariasis es una enfermedad causada por el gusano circulo parásito Ascaris lumbricoides. (Adultos)

Ascariasis

Ascaris infection due to A. lumbricoides occurs worldwide with an estimated 772–892 million people globally infected. Most cases occur in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. Heavy infections (caused by a high number of worms) are more common in children, can block the intestines and can slow growth in children.

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top

Anquilostoma

Hookworm is an intestinal parasite most commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, particularly in Africa, South East Asia, the Western Pacific, Latin America and the Mediterranean. They infect roughly 406 – 480 million people globally.

  • Hookworm

    Anquilostomas son parásitos intestinales que causan un tipo de infección conocida como helmintiasis.

  • Necator americanus

    Necator americanus, a species of hookworm, an obligatory parasitic nematode that lives in the small intestine of human hosts

Row midpoint Shape Decorative svg added to top
  • Trichuris female adult

  • Eggs of the nematode (roundworm) Trichuris trichiura

Tricuriasis

The whipworm parasite, Trichuris trichiura, is a soil-transmitted helminth. Globally, whipworms infect an estimated 429 – 508 million people.

Créditos de las fotos:

Row triangle Shape Decorative svg added to bottom

Learn more about parasitic diseases and receive updates about Parasites Without Borders' initiatives and developments by subscribing to our newsletter.

Parasites Without Borders

Un recurso educativo integral sobre todos los aspectos de las enfermedades parasitarias y su impacto en la humanidad en todo el mundo.

Donate to Parasites Without Borders Today!

Ayude a llevar la información médica y biológica más reciente sobre enfermedades causadas por parásitos eucariotas a todos los médicos y estudiantes de medicina en los Estados Unidos.

Scroll al inicio