Epidemic Hecatomb in the New World

Abstract

The American population developed, during thousands of years, free of epidemics that had been attacking Europe, Asia and Africa. The European and African migrations, after Columbus'sfirst trip, produced an epidemic invasion of influenza, smallpox, measles, yellow fever, malaria, diphtheria, typhus, and other diseases that attacked the immunologically virgin populations and produced a very high mortality, with a diminution of the indigenous population of more than 90% in many places. According to historical evidence, the first epidemic was influenza, produced by suine strain of virus, immediately fat/owed by smallpox. The Spaniards mated freely with the Indians producing a mixed race called the Mestizo, who were immunologically more capable of defending themselves against various viruses, bacteria, and parasites brought over from the Old World. Marriage between the races also was sanctioned by Queen Isabella (/503) and Fernando I (/515). With these new genetic immunologic defenses against infections, the Mestizo eventually made up the majority of the population of Indians in the New World. (Allergy Proc 13, 5:237-241, 1992)

Natural Products That Changed Society

“…The Indian population on the island Espanola decreased from 3,770,000 in 1496 to 125 in 1570. Similar catastrophic falls were observed in Mexico and Peru [ 33 ]. Mating between Spaniards and Indians created Mestizos, who were less sensitive to the diseases and soon outnumbered the original population [ 33 ].…”

“…Malaria and a number of other diseases well known in Europe, Asia and Africa such as smallpox, influenza, measles and yellow fever were no burdens for the pre-Columbian American population [ 33 ]. Consequently the endemic population had no immunologic defense.…”

Novel HLA‐A and HLA‐B alleles in South American Indians

“…However, as was discussed by Cadavid and Watkins, the total number of alleles in these populations has remained relatively constant in comparison to the founder populations ( 9). As has been discussed previously by other investigators regarding Amerindian populations ( 20, 46, 47), one wonders whether the new variants offer an advantage against pathogens compared with the ancestral alleles. Contact with pathogens brought by Europeans caused widespread mortality among American natives ( 9, 46, 47).…”

“…As has been discussed previously by other investigators regarding Amerindian populations ( 20, 46, 47), one wonders whether the new variants offer an advantage against pathogens compared with the ancestral alleles. Contact with pathogens brought by Europeans caused widespread mortality among American natives ( 9, 46, 47). It is also likely that new pathogens were encountered by native populations migrating into the tropical zones of South America ( 9, 20).…”

Polimorfismo e evolução do gene HLA-B nas Américas

“…As populações nativo-americanas sofreram um severo gargalo populacional, com estimativas de até 90%, após os primeiros contatos com os conquistadores europeus (Naranjo, 1995). Os relatos da conquista do continente, vindo tanto dos colonizadores quanto dos colonizados, apontam as doenças trazidas pelos europeus como as principais responsáveis pela drástica redução populacional sofrida pelas populações nativas do continente (Bethell, 1999;Hemming, 2007).…”