Detection of leprosy in ancient human skeletal remains by molecular identification of Mycobacterium leprae

We isolated ancient DNA from skeletal remains obtained from a South German ossuary (approximately 1400-1800 AD) and from a 10th century Hungarian cemetery partially indicating macromorphologic evidence of leprosy. In samples taken of 2 skulls from Germany and of 1 hard palate from Hungary, Mycobacte...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of clinical pathology 2000-09, Vol.114 (3), p.428-436
Main Authors: HAAS, Christian J, ZINK, Albert, PALFI, György, SZEIMIES, Ulrike, NERLICH, Andreas G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Sequence
Biological and medical sciences
Bone and Bones - microbiology
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Female
History of medicine
History, Medieval
History, Modern 1601
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Leprosy - diagnosis
Leprosy - history
Leprosy - microbiology
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous. Technology
Molecular Sequence Data
Mycobacterium leprae
Mycobacterium leprae - genetics
Mycobacterium leprae - isolation & purification
Paleopathology - methods
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Peptides, Cyclic
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We isolated ancient DNA from skeletal remains obtained from a South German ossuary (approximately 1400-1800 AD) and from a 10th century Hungarian cemetery partially indicating macromorphologic evidence of leprosy. In samples taken of 2 skulls from Germany and of 1 hard palate from Hungary, Mycobacterium leprae-specific fragments of RLEP1 and RLEP3 were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), thereby confirming their specificity by sequencing. In another case, PCR with primers targeting IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis gave positive results only for a mandibular specimen. No signal for any mycobacterial DNA was observed in samples from 2 Hungarian foot bones. In ancient material, osseous involvement of M leprae may be detected and distinguished from other mycobacterial infections by specific PCR. In the small bones of leprous hands and feet, not enough M leprae DNA seems to be present for detection. This supports the view that rhinomaxillary leprous alterations result from direct bacterial involvement, while osseous mutilations of hands and feet result from a nervous involvement and/or secondary infections due to small lacerations of the overlying soft tissues.
ISSN:0002-9173
1943-7722
DOI:10.1093/ajcp/114.3.428