Exploring the Evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi and the Emergence of Chagas Disease in the Context of Environmental Change Applying the Stockholm Paradigm to Archaeoparasitology (Part I)

Abstract

The Stockholm Paradigm is an evolutionary synthesis that explains the emergence of novel pathogens in the context of environmental disturbances. Considering the urgent climate change situation, anticipation stands as key to prevent and mitigate the effects that climate change can have in the emergence of pathogens. However, the success of preventive measures is hindered by a limited knowledge of the interplaying dynamics between biology, environment, and culture leading to emerging infectious diseases. For many decades, bioarcheologists have been gathering data on past human–environment interactions, therefore contributing to the conversation. Archaeoparasitology, at the intersection between pathology, bioarchaeology, and biology, is uniquely placed to
enquire about the circumstances that favored the emergence of novel pathogens in the past. We illustrate this task by reviewing the existing knowledge on the evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi and emergence of Chagas disease. When the scholarship on Chagas is completed with the lessons learned from the Stockholm Paradigm, this provides a long-term perspective on environmental change and human relations leading to the emergence of an infectious disease.