Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, has a complex history that researchers have just uncovered. A recent study published in Science reveals that a form of leprosy was present in the Americas over 1,000 years ago, predating European colonization.
Led by Nicolas Rascovan and his team of international scientists, the research found DNA evidence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis, a recently discovered species of leprosy-causing bacteria, infecting people in North and South America. The discovery upends the prevailing belief that Europeans introduced leprosy to the New World.
Leprosy’s reputation for causing human destruction is well-known, but its history remains shrouded in mystery. The disease can cause chronic infections of skin and nerve cells, leading to lifelong disabilities if left untreated. The researchers’ findings suggest that one of the two species responsible for leprosy, M. lepromatosis, was already present in the Americas centuries before European contact.
The study’s authors analyzed hundreds of samples from modern-day patients and ancient DNA samples from people living in the Americas before European colonization. They found three ancient samples positive for the bacteria, indicating that leprosy had been circulating on the continent for over 9,000 years.
The researchers’ discovery challenges our understanding of leprosy’s history in the Americas and raises questions about its spread and evolution. While modern cases of M. lepromatosis are linked to a specific lineage of the bacteria, older clades have likely evolved independently in the Americas, suggesting that the disease may be hiding out in mysterious animal hosts.
As scientists continue to study this neglected pathogen, they hope to unravel the mysteries surrounding its history and spread. Their findings suggest that M. lepromatosis could become a bigger threat if not understood properly, emphasizing the need for further research into its dynamics and potential emergence as an emerging pathogen.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/leprosys-origins-are-even-weirder-than-we-thought-2000608223