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Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

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Chagas disease in prehistory.

Luiz F Ferreira¹, Ana M Jansen, Adauto Araújo

¹Laboratório de Paleoparasitologia, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciencias

|July 9, 2011

Summary

Paleoparasitological data suggests Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is as old as human presence in the Americas. This challenges the hypothesis of its origin 6,000 years ago in the Andean region.

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Area of Science:

Paleoparasitology
Molecular Biology
Infectious Diseases

Background:

The classical hypothesis posits Chagas disease originated in the Andean region around 6,000 years ago due to lifestyle changes like animal domestication and agriculture.
This hypothesis is based on the proposed timeline of early human settlements and societal shifts in South America.

Observation:

Paleoparasitological studies utilizing molecular tools reveal Trypanosoma cruzi infection in both South and North American prehistoric populations.
Evidence indicates Chagas disease was prevalent long before the 6,000-year mark suggested by the classical hypothesis.

Findings:

Molecular data challenges the traditional origin timeline of Chagas disease.
Trypanosoma cruzi infection appears to predate the agricultural revolution in the Americas, suggesting an older emergence.

Implications:

Chagas disease may be as ancient as the initial human migrations into the American continent.
Further research into the origin and dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi can resolve outstanding clinical and epidemiological questions about Chagas disease.