Difference between revisions of "Timeline of Chagas disease"

This is a '''timeline of [[Chagas disease]]''', describing major events such as scientific and medical developments, as well as major organizations and campaigns aimed at combating the disease.

| 16th century onwards || Upon the arrival of the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish]] in [[South America]], several accounts by travellers and physicians describing patients with chagas disease–like symptoms merge.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" />  

| 1920s–1930s || Salvador Mazza and others detect some 1,400 cases of Chagas disease in the Argentine [[Gran Chaco]] in these decades, in a region where others have failed to identify a case in previous decades.<ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future">{{cite journal|last1=Gürtler|first1=Ricardo E|last2=Diotaiuti|first2=Liléia|last3=Kitron|first3=Uriel|title=Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future|url=https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/37/4/698/740634/Commentary-Chagas-disease-100-years-since|accessdate=28 February 2017}}</ref>  

| 1940s || Introduction of serodiagnostic tests shows that infections with Chagas disease causative parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' are widespread in Latin America.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" />

| 1950s || Chagas disease prevention programs start to be conducted.<ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" /> In [[Central America]], the presence of [[Chagas disease]] vector ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'' is recognized as a public health problem.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" />

| 1980s–1990s || Chagas disease prevention is dramatically improved through large-scale vector control and screening of blood donors.<ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" /> The estimated burden of disease in terms of [[disability-adjusted life year]]s declines from 2·7 million in 1990 to 586,000 in 2001 in the [[Southern Cone]].<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" />

| Recent years || Due to migration of people infected with [[Chagas disease]] causing parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' from endemic countries, Chagas disease is increasingly becoming a global health problem. At present about 7-8 million people are estimated to be infected with [[Chagas disease]] causing parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'', mostly in [[Latin America]], and more than 25 million people are at risk of contracting Chagas disease. In 2008 alone, over 10,000 deaths from Chagas disease were reported.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /><ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" />

[[File:First and last reported presence of Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus in Central America and Mexico.png|thumb|center|400px|First and last reported presence of Chagas disease vector ''[[rhodnius prolixus]]'' in Central America and Mexico.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" />]]

[[File:Estimated Nuber of immigrants infected with Trypanosome cruzi in European countries.png|thumb|center|400px|Estimated Nuber of immigrants infected with ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' in European countries.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease Dietmar Steverding">{{cite journal|last1=Steverding|first1=Dietmar|title=The history of Chagas disease|journal=Parasites & Vectors|doi=10.1186/1756-3305-7-317|url=https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-7-317|accessdate=2 March 2017}}</ref>]]

| 7–10 million BP || || The ancestor of Chagas disease parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' is probably introduced to South America via [[bat]]s.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease">{{cite journal|last1=Steverding|first1=Dietmar|title=The history of Chagas disease|doi=10.1186/1756-3305-7-317|pmc=4105117}}</ref> || [[South America]]  

| ~15000 BP || Infection || Chagas parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' starts to affect human beings upon their arrival in the Americas.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> || [[Americas]]

| ~9000 BP || Infection ||  The earliest detection of a chagas parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' infection in a human comes from a [[Chinchorro mummies|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.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> || [[South America]]  

| 1835 || Report || During [[The Voyage of the Beagle]], British [[natural history|naturalist]] [[Charles Darwin]] writes account of blood sucking process of a [[Triatominae|triatomine bug]] (known as ''benchuca'' or ''the great black bug of the Pampas'') attacking on him. Based on this encounter and Darwin's prolonged gastric and nervous symptoms, it would be hypothesised that Darwin was suffering from Chagas disease later in his life. Despite all this, the critical role of triatomine bugs in transmitting [[Chagas disease]] would remain undiscovered until 1909.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /><ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Argentina]]   

| 1873 || Medical development || Danish physician Theodoro Langgaard describes Chagas disease as “mal de engasgo” probably referring to [[dysphagia]].<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Marcondes de Rezende|first1=Joffre|title=À sombra do Plátano: crônicas de história da medicina|url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=hJwnBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA308&lpg=PA308&dq=%22mal+de+engasgo%22+%22langaard%22&source=bl&ots=VmFR8AD5C0&sig=YcbW-vcpbSGAWu6BhpsGgEpaNdY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSvbqYv4HSAhXFQZAKHT1UDBgQ6AEIKTAC#v=onepage&q=%22mal%20de%20engasgo%22%20%22langaard%22&f=false|accessdate=8 February 2017}}</ref> || [[Brazil]]

| 1909 || Scientific development || Brazilian scientist [[Carlos Chagas]], after years of researching [[Trypanosoma cruzi|trypanosomes]], finds the relation between these pathogenes and a feverish two year old girl with enlarged spleen and liver and swollen lymph nodes.  Chagas discovers a new human disease which soon would bear his name.<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries">{{cite journal|last1=Rodrigues Coura|first1=José|last2=Albajar Viñas|first2=Pedro|last3=Junqueira|first3=Angela|title=Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries|doi=10.1590/0074-0276140236|url=http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762014000700856|accessdate=1 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kropf|first1=SP|last2=Sá|first2=MR|title=The discovery of Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease (1908-1909): tropical medicine in Brazil.|pmid=20027916}}</ref> || [[Brazil]]

| 1913 || Scientific development || Nattan-Larrier reports finding [[Chagas disease]] causing parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' in the milk of [[laboratory animal]]s.<ref name="Chagas Disease and Breast-feeding">{{cite journal|last1=Norman|first1=Francesca F.|last2=López-Vélez|first2=Rogelio|title=Chagas Disease and Breast-feeding|doi=10.3201/eid1910.130203|pmc=3810739}}</ref> ||  

| 1915 || Scientific development || ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', one of the main vectors of ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'' (causative agent of [[Chagas disease]]) in [[Central America]], is discovered in El Salvador.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[El Salvador]]

| 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]].<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> || [[Argentina]]

| 1934 ||  || Chagas disease vector ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', is first reported in Guatemala.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[Guatemala]]

| 1936 || Scientific development || Study reports having found [[trypomastigotes]] in the milk of mothers in the acute phase of [[Chagas disease]].<ref name="Chagas Disease and Breast-feeding" /> ||

| 1939 || Scientific development || [[Swiss people|Swiss]] chemist discovers [[Organochloride]] [[DDT]]'s insecticidal properties.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1948|url=http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1948/|publisher=Nobelprize|accessdate=16 December 2016}}</ref> This would allow vector control in the 1940s when the first [[Organochloride|organochlorine]] insecticides are developed.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> ||  

| 1947 || Prevention development || [[lindane|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.<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> ||

| 1949 ||  || Chagas disease vector ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', is first reported in Nicaragua.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[Nicaragua]]

| 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.<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> ||

| 1953 ||  || Chagas disease vector ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', is first reported in Costa Rica.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[Costa Rica]]

| 1956–1959 ||  || Chagas disease vector ''[[Rhodnius prolixus]]'', is first reported in Honduras.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[Honduras]]

| 1966 || Medical development || Swiss multinational health-care company [[Hoffmann-La Roche]] introduces [[benznidazole]] for treatment of [[Chagas disease]].<ref name="The history of Chagas disease" /> || [[Switzerland]]

| 1970 || Medical development || German multinational company [[Bayer]] introduces [[Nifurtimox]] for treatment of [[Chagas disease]]. || [[Germany]]

| 1972 || Scientific development || M. A. Miles detects trypomastigotes and antibodies against [[Chagas disease]] parasite ''[[trypanosoma cruzi]]'', after examining the milk of mice in the acute phase of the disease. Finally, Miles would conclude that, experimentally, even in the acute phase of the disease, Chagas transmission through breast-feeding is rare.<ref name="Chagas Disease and Breast-feeding" /> ||

| 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.<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Brazil]]

| 1975–1978 || Program launch || The Ministry of Health of Brazil conducts a seroprevalence survey in its [[Chagas disease]] endemic areas and finds 4.1% individuals positive, equivalent to about 800,000 cases of the disease.<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Brazil]]

| 1983 || Program launch || Brazil launches national campaign of [[Chagas disease]] vector control. By 1986 75% of the initial objectives would be attained.<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Brazil]]

| 1986 || Report || Brazil reports 186 municipalities infested with [[triatomines]] (potential [[Chagas disease]] vectors).<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[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.<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" /><ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil">{{cite journal|last1=MASSAD|first1=E.|title=The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil|doi=10.1017/S0950268807009879|pmc=2870925}}</ref><ref name="Chagas disease: control, elimination and eradication. Is it possible?" /> || [[Argentina]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[Paraguay]], [[Uruguay]], [[Peru]]

| 1993 || Report || Brazil reports 83 municipalities infested with [[triatomines]] (potential [[Chagas disease]] vectors).<ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Brazil]]

| 1997 || Erradication || Control over the transmission of [[Chagas disease]] infection by vector ''[[triatoma infestans]]'' is certified in Uruguay by the [[Pan American Health Organization]].<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="Chagas disease: control, elimination and eradication. Is it possible?" /> || [[Uruguay]]

| 1997 || Program launch || The Initiative of the Andean Countries (IAC) is launched by Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela with the porpose of interrupting transmission via vector and transfusion of [[Chagas disease]] in the region.<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="Chagas disease in Andean countries.">{{cite journal|last1=Guhl|first1=F|title=Chagas disease in Andean countries.|pmid=17891273}}</ref> || [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Venezuela]]

| 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.<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America">{{cite journal|last1=Hashimoto|first1=Ken|last2=Schofield|first2=Christopher J|title=Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America|journal=Parasites & Vectors|doi=10.1186/1756-3305-5-45|url=https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-5-45|accessdate=1 March 2017}}</ref> ||  

| 1998 || Program launch || The [[World Health Assembly]] and others set target for interruprion of transmission of Chagas disease by 2005 (not achieved).<ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" /> ||

| 1999 || Erradication || Control over the transmission of [[Chagas disease]] infection by vector ''[[triatoma infestans]]'' is certified in Chile by the [[Pan American Health Organization]].<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="Chagas disease: control, elimination and eradication. Is it possible?">{{cite journal|last1=Rodrigues Coura|first1=José|title=Chagas disease: control, elimination and eradication. Is it possible?|doi=10.1590/0074-0276130565|pmc=4005548}}</ref> || [[Chile]]

| 2002 || Report || The burden of Chagas disease in [[Latin America]] is calculated to amount to as much as 2.7 times the joint burden of [[malaria]], [[schistosomiasis]], [[leishmaniasis]] and [[leprosy]], and accounts for 670 000 [[disability-adjusted life year]]s through its impact on worker productivity, premature disability and death.<ref name="Commentary: Chagas disease: 100 years since discovery and lessons for the future" /> || [[Latin America]]

| 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]].<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /> || [[Brazil]] ([[Manaus]])

| 2006 || Erradication || Control over the transmission of [[Chagas disease]] infection by vector ''[[triatoma infestans]]'' is certified in Brazil by the [[Pan American Health Organization]].<ref name="Ecoepidemiology, short history and control of Chagas disease in the endemic countries and the new challenge for non-endemic countries" /><ref name="The elimination of Chagas' disease from Brazil" /> || [[Brazil]]

| 2008 || Erradication || Guatemala becomes the first country in [[Central America]] to be formally certified as free of [[Chagas disease]] transmission due to ''[[rhodnius prolixus]]''.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /><ref>{{cite book|title=Trypanosomiasis—Advances in Research and Treatment: 2012 Edition|publisher=Scholarly Editions|url=https://books.google.com.ar/books?id=e_LY1heZbkgC&pg=PT14&lpg=PT14&dq=%222008%22+%22guatemala%22+%22prolixus%22&source=bl&ots=MfAhb-Q0_t&sig=fLkw_JQXLPPWGxWqmv5470Gpa3c&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXh8KozbbSAhXJF5AKHbLRBBsQ6AEITDAI#v=onepage&q=%222008%22%20%22guatemala%22%20%22prolixus%22&f=false|accessdate=2 March 2017}}</ref> || [[Guatemala]]

| 2011 || Erradication || All the previously endemic countries of Central America, in addition to Mexico, are formally certified as free of [[Chagas disease]] transmission due to their main domestic vector, ''[[rhodnius prolixus]]''.<ref name="Elimination of Rhodnius prolixus in Central America" /> || [[Mexico]], [[Belize]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Costa Rica]]   

* [[Timeline of yellow fever]]

* [[Timeline of malaria]]

[[Category:Chagas disease]]

[[Category:Medicine timelines]]