History of indigenous Trypanosoma cruzi infection in humans, animals and triatomines in California, USA

This historical review highlights previously undescribed potential foci for sylvatic and domestic locally acquired Chagas disease in California. The review starts in the 1910s, when Trypanosoma cruzi was first discovered through scientific triatomine investigations. Next, the natural transition around the mid-1900s into clinical investigations of the domestic and peridomestic environments and their epidemiologic profiles is detailed. The review closes with the shift to applied genetic, diagnostic and scientific applications surrounding Chagas disease infected individuals in the state. Throughout the course of the review, transmission foci and their unique clinical and epidemiologic characteristics are described. This in-depth review has merit for clinicians, veterinarians and public health officials working with vector-borne diseases in the southwestern USA.