Fungi could help fight parasitic disease

Entomopathogenic fungi have been identified as having properties that could help to stop the spread of Chagas disease.

A new study conducted in Argentina found that the fungi could control the bug that spreads the parasitic disease, Triatoma infestans.

The fungi has proven to be successful at killing insects already resistant to existing methods, researchers claimed in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases.

More than 50 per cent of bugs detected on the border of Argentina and Bolivia were found to be killed by fungal infection, which could reduce the risk of parasitic infection.

Previously, pyrethroid resistance had threatened to reduce the effectiveness of current strategies to control Chagas disease.

The researchers, led by Patricia Juarez, noted that the fungi could prove to be "a safe and efficient alternative" to existing methods.

Chagas disease is only found in Latin America and is named after the doctor who discovered it, Carlos Chagas.

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