it as a disease of the autonomic nervous system, which establishes itself during the acute phase and provokes long term and slowly installing denervation. Since the trypanosoma does not seem to damage neurons directly, Köberle and other researchers have hypothesized the action of a neurotoxin, cytotoxic factors or autoimmune mechanisms. Köberle retired from the University of São Paulo in 1976, but soon moved as visiting professor to the Medical School, of the State University of Campinas, in Campinas, São Paulo, where one of his sons, Gottfried Köberle, is a professor of Orthopedics. He worked there until his death, in 1983, in Americana. Another son, Roland Köberle, is a professor in Physics at the University of São Paulo at São Carlos. Miscellaneous The square in front of the main entrance to the USP campus at Ribeirão Preto is named in his honor. Bibliography Koeberle, F. Cardiopathia parasympathicopriva. Munch. Med. Wochenschr.. 1959 Jul 31;101:1308-10. Koeberle, F. Enteromegaly and cardiomegaly in Chagas disease. Gut. 1963 Dec;41:399-405. External links Rezende, J.M.: Fritz Köberle and his studies on Chagas Disease (in Portuguese) Brazilian pathologists Austrian pathologists University of São Paulo faculty State University of Campinas faculty Austrian emigrants to Brazil People from Sankt Pölten-Land District 1910 births 1985 deaths