Q: Chagas disease effect: (Choose one) 

A) parasympathetic autonomic nervous system 
B) sympathetic autonomic nervous system


Answer:  A 

In chagas disease, selective incremental failure of the parasympathetic nervous system eventually leads to megaesophagus, megacolon and dilated cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is the usual cause of death in Chagas disease. Underlying mechanism of pathology occurs via inflammatory response, cellular lesions, and fibrosis. Intracellular amastigotes destroy the intramural neurons of the parasympathetic  autonomic nervous system in the GI tract and heart, leading to mega-intestine and dilated cardiomyopathy.