A nontuberculous mycobacterium could solve the mystery of the lady from the Franciscan church in Basel, Switzerland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 1975, the mummified body of a female has been found in the Franciscan church in Basel, Switzerland. Molecular and genealogic analyses unveiled her identity as Anna Catharina Bischoff (ACB), a member of the upper class of post-reformed Basel, who died at the age of 68 years, in 1787. The reason behind her death is still a mystery, especially that toxicological analyses revealed high levels of mercury, a common treatment against infections at that time, in different body organs. The computed tomography (CT) and histological analysis showed bone lesions in the femurs, the rib cage, and the skull, which refers to a potential syphilis case.

Results

Although we could not detect any molecular signs of the syphilis-causing pathogen Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, w

SUBMITTER: Sarhan MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9903526 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature