Ancient pathogens in museal dry bone specimens: analysis of paleocytology and aDNA

Abstract

Bone samples investigated in this study derive from the pathologic-anatomical collection of the Natural History Museum of Vienna. In order to explore the survival of treponemes and treponemal ancient DNA in museal dry bone specimens, we analyzed three individuals known to have been infected with Treponema pallidum pallidum. No reproducible evidence of surviving pathogen's ancient DNA (aDNA) was obtained, despite the highly sensitive extraction and amplification techniques (TPP15 and arp). Additionally, decalcification fluid of bone sections was smear stained with May-Gruenwald-Giemsa. The slides were examined using direct light microscope and dark field illumination. Remnants of spirochetal structures were detectable in every smear. Our results demonstrate that aDNA is unlikely to survive, but spirochetal remains are stainable and thus detectable.

Metagenomic Research of Infectious Diseases in Archaeological Contexts: Evidence from the Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos (Portugal)

“…One of the aims of this research was to confirm or discard the presence of Treponema pallidum, being aware of the limitations of such an endeavor [22][23][24][25]. However, the metagenomic analysis did not detect the presence of Treponema pallidum.…”

“…However, this option was not without challenges since previous studies showed no evidence of syphilitic-related pathogens in the archaeological remains. In contrast, others highlighted its presence [22][23][24][25] and the need to understand better how the pathogen may survive in human osteological remains. Moreover, since in the tertiary stages of the treponemal disease, organisms in the host have been described as reduced, and inferences about syphilis when assessing human osteological remains will always be limited [26].…”