Timeline of Chagas disease

16th century onwards

Upon the arrival of the Spanish in South America, several accounts by travellers and physicians describing patients with chagas disease–like symptoms merge.

1940s

Introduction of serodiagnostic tests shows that infections with Chagas disease causative parasite trypanosoma cruzi are widespread in Latin America.

1980s–1990s

Chagas disease prevention is dramatically improved through large-scale vector control and screening of blood donors. The estimated burden of disease in terms of disability-adjusted life years declines from 2·7 million in 1990 to 586,000 in 2001 in the Southern Cone.

7–10 million BP

The ancestor of Chagas disease parasite trypanosoma cruzi is probably introduced to South America via bats.

South America

~9000 BP

Infection

The earliest detection of a chagas parasite trypanosoma cruzi infection in a human comes from a Chinchorro mummy. Chagas disease causative parasite trypanosoma cruzi infections would also be found in mummies of subsequent cultures that succeeded the Chinchorros and were living in the same area up to the time of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

South America

1735

Medical development

Portuguese physician, Luís Gomes Ferreira describes account on the megavisceral syndrome of Chagas disease.

1873

Medical development

Danish physician Theodoro Langgaard describes Chagas disease as “mal de engasgo” probably referring to dysphagia.

Brazil

1913

Scientific development

Nattan-Larrier reports finding Chagas disease causing parasite trypanosoma cruzi in the milk of laboratory animals.

1930–1939

Scientific development

Argentine epidemiologist Salvador Mazza describes more than a thousand Chagas disease cases in the Argentine Chaco province. Mazza is the first to raise the possibility that Chagas disease could be transmitted by blood transfusion.

Argentina

1936

Scientific development

Study reports having found trypomastigotes in the milk of mothers in the acute phase of Chagas disease.

1947

Prevention development

Gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) insecticide is released and recommended for its use as first control alternative against Chagas disease vectors. For many years ahead, BHC would remain the mainstay of Chagas disease vector control trials and campaigns.

1953

Medical development

Dye crystal violet is found to kill Chagas disease parasite trypanosoma cruzi in blood preservations. Since then the dye would be widely employed in blood banks in endemic areas to eliminate the parasite from blood used for transfusion.

1956–1959

Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus, is first reported in Honduras.

Honduras

1970

Medical development

German multinational company Bayer introduces Nifurtimox for treatment of Chagas disease.

Germany

1975

Program launch

Brazil starts operating Chagas disease control program. At the time, 711 out of over 5000 municipalities have triatomine-infested houses targeted by the program.

Brazil

1983

Program launch

Brazil launches national campaign of Chagas disease vector control. By 1986 75% of the initial objectives would be attained.

Brazil

1991

Program launch

A Southern Cone Initiative (INCOSUR), a regional intergovernmental control program agreed between the governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Peru, is launched with the original objectives of eliminating all domestic and peridomestic populations of the main vector triatoma infestans and transmission of trypanosoma cruzi via blood transfusion in the Southern Cone countries by the year 2000.

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru

1997

Eradication

Control over the transmission of Chagas disease infection by vector triatoma infestans is certified in Uruguay by the Pan American Health Organization.

Uruguay

1997

Program launch

The Initiative of Central America and Mexico is launched with the objectives of interrupting the transmission of Chagas disease by vector rhodnius prolixus, reducing domestic infestation by vector triatoma dimidiata and interrupting parasite trypanosoma cruzi transmission through blood transfusion.

1999

Eradication

Control over the transmission of Chagas disease infection by vector triatoma infestans is certified in Chile by the Pan American Health Organization.

Chile

2002

Organization

The Initiative of the Amazon Countries (AMCHA) is organized by the Pan American Health Organization with the objectives of evaluating the risks of Chagas endemicity becoming established in the Amazon Region, identifying the research required for monitoring and prevention of Chagas disease in the region, proposing monitoring and prevention, and proposing an international cooperation system. Nine Amazon countries are represented: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela.

Brazil (Manaus)

2008

Eradication

Guatemala becomes the first country in Central America to be formally certified as free of Chagas disease transmission due to rhodnius prolixus.

Guatemala