Ancient DNA confirmation of lepromatous leprosy in a skeleton with concurrent osteosarcoma, excavated from the leprosarium of St. Mary Magdalen in Winchester, Hants., UK

Cole, Garrard; Taylor, G. Michael; Stewart, Graham R.; Dawson-Hobbis, Heidi

doi:10.1007/s10096-022-04494-5

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Given the close proximity of both graves to the l eprosarium chapel, an indicator of high status, both were sampled for radiocarbon dating and aDNA. As reported, Sk.604 was infected with a main SNP type 3I strain of M. leprae [95], and the present study failed to find any evidence of leprosy in Sk.512. For a detailed discussion of the osteological findings and possible causes of the blunt force trauma in Sk.512, please see Section 2 ofSupplementary Information.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…During a reassessment of the human remains from the 2000 Time Team excavation, two skeletons of note were identified. One, Sk.604, was found to have periosteal osteosarcoma concurrent with skeletal signs of LL, which was confirmed by testing [95]. The second, Sk.512, detailed in this paper, had been heavily truncated from the pelvis upwards by a later trench (Fig.…”

Section: Sk512supporting

confidence: 64%

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Bioarchaeological investigation of individuals with suspected multibacillary leprosy from the mediaeval leprosarium of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester, Hampshire, UK

Taylor,

White-Iribhogbe,

Cole

et al. 2024

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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Introduction. We have examined four burials from the St Mary Magdalen mediaeval leprosarium cemetery in Winchester, Hampshire, UK. One (Sk.8) was a male child, two (Sk.45 and Sk.52) were adolescent females and the fourth (Sk.512) was an adult male. The cemetery was in use between the 10th and 12th centuries. All showed skeletal lesions of leprosy. Additionally, one of the two females (Sk.45) had lesions suggestive of multi-cystic tuberculosis and the second (Sk.52) of leprogenic odontodysplasia (LO), a rare malformation of the roots of the permanent maxillary incisors. Gap statement. Relatively little is known of the manifestations of lepromatous leprosy (LL) in younger individuals from the archaeological record. Aims and Methodology. To address this, we have used ancient DNA testing and osteological examination of the individuals, supplemented with X-ray and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scan as necessary to assess the disease status. Results and Conclusions. The presence of Mycobacterium leprae DNA was confirmed in both females, and genotyping showed SNP type 3I-1 strains but with a clear genotypic variation. We could not confirm Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in the female individual SK.45. High levels of M. leprae DNA were found within the pulp cavities of four maxillary teeth from the male child (Sk.8) with LO, consistent with the theory that the replication of M. leprae in alveolar bone may interfere with root formation at key stages of development. We report our biomolecular findings in these individuals and review the evidence this site has contributed to our knowledge of mediaeval leprosy.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Sk512supporting

confidence: 64%