An isotopic case study of individuals with syphilis from the pathological-anatomical reference collection of the national museum in Prague (Czech Republic, 19th century A.D.)

Abstract

Objective: This paper aims at investigating the possible existence of isotopic offsets in δ 13 C col and δ 15 N col values in relation to tertiary syphilis. Material: Based on materials from the 19th c. A.D. deriving from the pathological-anatomical reference collection (the Jedlička collection) of the National Museum in Prague (Czech Republic), a comparative approach of ten individuals with syphilis and nine without the disease was undertaken. Methods: Bone powder samples were defatted according to the protocol of Liden et al. (1995). Bone collagen was extracted following the protocol of Bocherens et al. (1991). Results: Our results show that individuals with syphilis have lower δ 13 C col values than individuals without the disease; the observed difference between the two groups is about 0.3-0.4‰, which is relatively small but still meaningful. However, no difference between δ 15 N col values of the two groups has been noticed. Conclusions: Either diets prescribed by physicians to syphilitic patients or nutritional stress caused by cyclic appetite disturbance due to the disease itself or the administered medical treatment appeared to be possible explanations of the observed isotopic pattern. Overall, the response of the two isotopic proxies could argue for relatively limited nutritional restrictions. Significance: This is the first study examining bone collagen isotopic response to syphilis based on clinically documented human skeletal materials. Limitations: The sample sizes are relatively small and cautiousness must be taken regarding the interpretations of the data. Suggestions for further research: Compound-specific stable isotope investigations and analysis of mercury content could be helpful to better understand the observed isotopic effects.

A reflection of the unfavorable living conditions caused by the First World War in the diet and health of a 10‐year‐old boy (1907–1917) from Vetlá cemetery, Bohemia

“…It is true that negative peaks in δ 13 C show slightly earlier timing than those in δ 15 N. This fits the hypothesis of Salesse et al (2019), whose data suggested that carbon balance may become negative more rapidly than nitrogen, and thus, δ 13 C may be more sensitive to milder forms of nutritional stress. In later stages of undernutrition, δ 13 C may rise again as the body runs out of 13 C depleted fat reserves (Neuberger et al, 2013).…”

These boots are made for burnin’: Inferring the position of the corpse and the presence of leather footwears during cremation through isotope (δ13C, δ18O) and infrared (FTIR) analyses of experimentally burnt skeletal remains

“…Particles ranging between 0.3 and 0.7 mm were collected for collagen extraction, and those less than 0.3 mm were used for carbon and oxygen isotope analyses of bioapatite carbonates. Prior to the purification procedures, bone powder samples were defatted according to the protocol developed by Kates [ 75 ] and tested by Liden et al [ 76 ], as presented in Salesse et al [ 77 ]. Bone collagen was extracted following the non-ultrafiltered procedure proposed by Brock et al [ 78 ] while unburnt bone carbonate samples were prepared following a revised version of the protocol of Balasse et al [ 79 ].…”

Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present

“…Few isotopic studies of bone collagen have included individuals diagnosed with suspected treponematosis (Dent, ; Mays, Crane‐Kramer, & Bayliss, ; Mays, Vincent, & Meadows, ; Rissech et al, ; Santos, Gardner, & Allsworth‐Jones, ; Schwarz, Skytte, & Rasmussen, ); even fewer have sought to compare these values directly with other bones or individuals exhibiting no signs of the disease to discern any potential pathophysiological effects associated with treponemal infection (Salesse, Kaupová, Brůžek, Kuželka, & Velemínský, ). Slightly lower δ 13 C col values (0.3–0.4‰) noted among 19th‐century people with syphilis, relative to unaffected individuals, were attributed to either prescribed dietary change or to nutritional stress—possibly resulting in endogenously‐formed nonessential amino acids derived from nonprotein sources depleted in 13 C—but not to the pathophysiology of the disease itself (Salesse et al, ). Nitrogen isotope values in the same group remained unchanged (Salesse et al, ).…”

“…Slightly lower δ 13 C col values (0.3–0.4‰) noted among 19th‐century people with syphilis, relative to unaffected individuals, were attributed to either prescribed dietary change or to nutritional stress—possibly resulting in endogenously‐formed nonessential amino acids derived from nonprotein sources depleted in 13 C—but not to the pathophysiology of the disease itself (Salesse et al, ). Nitrogen isotope values in the same group remained unchanged (Salesse et al, ). Oxygen isotope values from hydroxyapatite also have the potential to be modified by disease due to imbalances during respiration or modified basal metabolic rates; however, 18 O depletion associated with anemia identified in one human study was attributed not to pathophysiological change but to changes in diet (Carroll, Inskip, & Waters‐Rist, ).…”

“…As preliminary studies have demonstrated that pathophysiological changes to bone result in only minor modifications to isotope values that may be impossible to differentiate from an altered diet (e.g., Salesse et al, ) or nutritional stress (e.g., Fuller et al, ), should future directions include more experimental studies that directly sample suspected treponemal lesion sites? Additional investigations would likely improve our understanding of how treponemal infection physiologically affects the body as reflected in modified biogeochemical signatures, particularly if sampling of both lesion and non‐lesion (control) areas on the same bone is possible (Katzenberg & Lovell, ).…”