The first probable evidence of leprosy in a male individual (17th-19th century AD) unearthed in Northern Portugal (Travanca, Santa Maria da Feira)

• Published in: International journal of paleopathology 2021-03, Vol.32, p.80-86
• Main Authors: Melo, Linda, Matos, Vitor M.J., Santos, Ana Luísa, Ferreira, Carlos, Silva, Ana Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acro-Osteolysis; Bone and Bones; Cemeteries; Foot bone lesions; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; Humans; Leprosy - history; Male; Paleopathology; Portugal; Post-medieval period; Rhinomaxillary lesions
• ISSN: 1879-9817; 1879-9825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.12.001

This study describes the first evidence of a probable paleopathological case of leprosy from northern Portugal. An adult male, skeleton 403, exhumed from the Christian cemetery associated with the church dedicated to Saint Mamede (Travanca, Santa Maria da Feira), dated from the 17th-19th century AD. Standard bioarchaeological methods were used for sex and age-at-death determinations, and leprosy-related bone lesions were identified through macroscopic analysis guided by paleopathological diagnostic criteria. The macroscopic observation revealed probable leprosy-related skeletal lesions, namely tenuous rhinomaxillary changes, bilateral proliferative periosteal reactions on the tibiae and fibulae, as well as concentric atrophy, acro-osteolysis and ankyloses of foot bones. Skeleton 403 represents a probable case of leprosy according to the nature and distribution pattern of bony lesions observed. This finding fills an important gap in the history of leprosy in Portugal. Although historical sources show that the majority of leprosaria were located in the northern part of the country, suggesting that leprosy was more prevalent in this area of Portugal in the past, no paleopathological evidence of this disease was reported for this region to date. Furthermore, the inhumation of a leprosy sufferer in a 17th-19th century AD Christian parish cemetery is deeply imbued with social meaning. The future detailed study of the remaining skeletons unearthed from the cemetery of the Church of São Mamede will hopefully reveal further osteological evidence of leprosy in addition to the application of ancient DNA analysis to confirm the presence of the pathogen of this disease. Also, further documentary research is needed in order to expand appreciation of the epidemiological and social impact of leprosy in the 17th-19th century AD Portugal.