Chagas disease historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, M.D., Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
The discovery of T. cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, dates back to pre-Columbian times in South America. Carlos Chagas,a Brazilian bacteriologist, was the first to discover the association between the Riduvid insect and T. cruzi. Carlos Chagas named the pathogen T. cruzi in honor of his mentor, Oswaldo Cruz. In 1966, Benznidazole was introduced and was the first antimicrobial agent against T. cruzi infections.
Historical Perspective
- The earliest evidence of Chagas disease infection dates to pre-Columbian times (9000 years ago) in South America, where positive PCR DNA sequences were discovered among Chinchorro mummies.[1]
- The vector for T. cruzi, the Reduvius (kissing/assassin) bug, was first described by Charles Darwin during his voyage of the Beagle.[2]
- Carlos Chagas,a Brazilian bacteriologist, was the first to discover the association between the triatomine Riduvid insect and T. cruzi. Carlos Chagas named the pathogen T. cruzi in honor of his mentor, Oswaldo Cruz.[3]
- Further contributions to the characteristization of T. cruzi were made by microbiological identification of the parasite were made by Stanislaus von Prowazek (microbiological characteristics of the parasite), Gaspara de Oliveria Vianna (intracellular life cycle), Alexandre Joseph Emile Brumpt (mode of vector transmission of the parasite), and Salvador Mazza (blood transfusion transmission and clinical description of the disease).[3]
- Benznidazole, introduced in 1966, was the first medical therapy for Chagas disease. In 1970, nifurtimox was introduced.[4]
- In 1940, vector control was attempted using organochloride insecticides, but these compounds proved to be ineffective against triatomines. It was not until 1980 that effective vector control by pyrethroid insecticides was introduced.[5]
References
- ↑ Aufderheide AC, Salo W, Madden M, Streitz J, Buikstra J, Guhl F; et al. (2004). "A 9,000-year record of Chagas' disease". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 101 (7): 2034–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.0307312101. PMC 357047. PMID 14766963.
- ↑ Miles MA (2004). "The discovery of Chagas disease: progress and prejudice". Infect Dis Clin North Am. 18 (2): 247–60, table of contents. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2004.01.005. PMID 15145379.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Steverding D (2014). "The history of Chagas disease". Parasit Vectors. 7: 317. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-317. PMC 4105117. PMID 25011546.
- ↑ Rodriques Coura J, de Castro SL (2002). "A critical review on Chagas disease chemotherapy". Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 97 (1): 3–24. PMID 11992141.
- ↑ Dias J, Schofield C (1999). "The evolution of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) control after 90 years since Carlos Chagas discovery". Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 94 Suppl 1: 103–21. PMID 10677697.