A treponemal genome from an historic plague victim supports a recent emergence of yaws and its presence in 15^th century Europe.

ABSTRACT: Developments in techniques for identification of pathogen DNA in archaeological samples can expand our resolution of disease detection. Our application of a non-targeted molecular screening tool for the parallel detection of pathogens in historical plague victims from post-medieval Lithuania revealed the presence of more than one active disease in one individual. In addition to Yersinia pestis, we detected and genomically characterized a septic infection of Treponema pallidum pertenue, a subtype of the treponemal disease family recognised as the cause of the tropical disease yaws. Our finding in northern Europe of a disease that is currently restricted to equatorial regions is interpreted within an historical framework of intercontinental trade and potential disease movements. Through this

SUBMITTER: Giffin K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7290034 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature