Paleomicrobiology of Leprosy
- Authors: Mark Spigelman1,2,3, Mauro Rubini4,5
- Editors: Michel Drancourt6, Didier Raoult7
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VIEW AFFILIATIONS HIDE AFFILIATIONSAffiliations: 1: Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK; 2: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; 3: The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Ancient DNA, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel; 4: Department of Archaeology Foggia University, Foggia, Italy; 5: Anthropological Service of Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Lazio (Ministry of Culture), Rome, Italy; 6: Aix Marseille Université Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France; 7: Aix Marseille Université Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
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Received 20 April 2015 Accepted 05 August 2015 Published 12 August 2016
- Correspondence: Mark Spigelman, [email protected]

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Abstract:
The use of paleomicrobiological techniques in leprosy has the potential to assist paleopathologists in many important aspects of their studies on the bones of victims, solving at times diagnostic problems. With Mycobacterium leprae, because of the unique nature of the organism, these techniques can help solve problems of differential diagnosis. In cases of co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they can also suggest a cause of death and possibly even trace the migratory patterns of people in antiquity, as well as explain changes in the rates and level of infection within populations in antiquity.
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Citation: Spigelman M, Rubini M. 2016. Paleomicrobiology of Leprosy. Microbiol Spectrum 4(4):PoH-0009-2015. doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.PoH-0009-2015.




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Abstract:
The use of paleomicrobiological techniques in leprosy has the potential to assist paleopathologists in many important aspects of their studies on the bones of victims, solving at times diagnostic problems. With Mycobacterium leprae, because of the unique nature of the organism, these techniques can help solve problems of differential diagnosis. In cases of co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they can also suggest a cause of death and possibly even trace the migratory patterns of people in antiquity, as well as explain changes in the rates and level of infection within populations in antiquity.

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Figures

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FIGURE 1
Stages of bone infiltration.

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FIGURE 2
Facial appearance of a victim.

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FIGURE 3
Rhinomaxillary syndrome.

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FIGURE 4
Nasal changes in leprosy.

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FIGURE 5
(A, B) Characteristic pencil shape of the tubular (metatarsal) bones of the foot.
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