Can T. cruzi spread through blood transfusion?

Yes, T. cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, can spread through blood transfusions. When an infected person donates blood, the parasite can be present in the donated blood and can be transmitted to the recipient during a blood transfusion. This is why blood banks in areas where Chagas disease is endemic routinely screen donated blood for the presence of T. cruzi to prevent transmission through blood transfusions.