"Royal" pediculosis in Renaissance Italy: lice in the mummy of the King of Naples Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496)

Fornaciari, Gino; Giuffra, Valentina; Marinozzi, Silvia; Picchi, Malayka Samantha; Masetti, M.

doi:10.1590/s0074-02762009000400026

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…The attachment of nits/eggs to the hair by a solid and resistant matrix was clearly present (Burkhart and Burkhart, 2005). A similar substance also can be observed in contemporary samples and other archaeological samples from all over the world (Fornaciari et al, 2009). The remaining substance sheds light into cleaning attempts and nit/egg removal.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations

Arriaza

Standen

Reinhard

et al. 2013

International Journal of Paleopathology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations

Arriaza

Standen

Reinhard

et al. 2013

International Journal of Paleopathology

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“…A double infestation by Pediculus capitis and Pthirus pubis (pubic louse) was described by FORNACIARI et al 11 , in the mummy of the King of Naples, Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496). Another relevant episode of body lice infestation including parts of the abdomen or the dorsum of five lice evolved in Napoleon's soldiers in Vilnius, when Napoleon Bonaparte besieged the city in 1812, during the Russian Campaign 20 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…The dynamics of infestation and transmission of head and body louse in the past is very well documented in many publications on the issue 1,3,8,11,14,21,24 . Hair samples, hair attached to the skull, in the form of scalp or fragments found in urns, carry lice and nits that have not yet been dated in the timeline of man's presence in the Americas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PREHISTORICAL Pediculus humanus capitis INFESTATION: QUANTITATIVE DATA AND LOW VACUUM SCANNING MICROSCOPY

Dutra

Alves

Pessanha

et al. 2014

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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A pre-Columbian Peruvian scalp was examined decades ago by a researcher from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Professor Olympio da Fonseca Filho described nits and adult lice attached to hair shafts and commented about the origin of head lice infestations on mankind. This same scalp was sent to our laboratory and is the subject of the present paper. Analysis showed a massive infestation with nine eggs/cm2 and an impressive number of very well preserved adult lice. The infestation age was roughly estimated as nine months before death based on the distance of nits from the hair root and the medium rate of hair growth. A small traditional textile was associated with the scalp, possibly part of the funerary belongings. Other morphological aspects visualized by low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy are also presented here for adults and nits.

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“…For example, they were used to treat the ulcers and luetic swellings that often accompanied syphilis and leprosy (Marinozzi and Fornaciari, 2005), diseases which were rampant across Europe in the 15 th century. Scientific research indicates mercury-containing ointments were used to treat lice infestations (Fornaciari et al, 2011(Fornaciari et al, , 2009, to treat putrid ulcers, sores, warts and pocks, to treat erythema, used to remove blotches and freckles from the face and used as an anti-putrefactive balm (Marinozzi and Fornaciari, 2005). While popular rumors suggested that Ferrante II had syphilis, the historical/medical reports attributed his death to "malignant tertian malaria" (Minervini, 1923;Passero, 1780).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing heavy metal exposure in Renaissance Europe using synchrotron microbeam techniques

Lanzirotti¹,

Bianucci²,

LeGeros³

et al. 2014

Journal of Archaeological Science

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A number of archaeological studies have used chemical analysis of preserved, human biological tissues to assess the potential exposure of historic figures and ancient populations to heavy metals. Accurately assessing historic levels of heavy-metal body burden for these individuals based on analysis of remnant soft-tissue, hair and bone collected from preserved human remains is often complicated by the potential for post-mortem chemical modifications and contamination of the body and burial site. This study employs high-resolution, synchrotron-based elemental X-ray fluorescence mapping, tomography and absorption spectroscopy of human remains collected in an archaeological context in an effort to discriminate between heavy metals such as mercury and lead that may have been incorporated through either endogenous or exogenous processes. These methods were used to analyze bone and hair samples from Ferrante II of Aragon, King of Naples (1469–1496) and Isabella of Aragon, Duchess of Milan (1470–1524). These individuals are likely to have been exposed to generally similar levels of heavy metals in their lifetime, would have been embalmed using similar methods and the post-mortem exposure to contaminants is likely to have been similar. Although the remains from both Ferrante II of Aragon and Isabella of Aragon contain high amounts of mercury and lead, the high-resolution and –sensitivity synchrotron microprobe techniques employed in this study provide insight in to the likelihood these metals were incorporated pre-mortem rather than as ante-mortem contaminants. Although synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping and tomography are generally consistent with measured mercury from Isabella hair samples being endogenous in nature, the high levels of mercury seen in Ferrante II's remains are most likely related to post-mortem embalming of the corpse. However, application of microfocused X-ray fluorescence compositional mapping and lead L2 edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy to bone samples collected from Ferrante II show that the measured lead is likely endogenous and the result of in-life exposure to this heavy meta

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"Royal" pediculosis in Renaissance Italy: lice in the mummy of the King of Naples Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467-1496)

Cited by 20 publications

References 5 publications

On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations

On head lice and social interaction in archaic Andean coastal populations

PREHISTORICAL Pediculus humanus capitis INFESTATION: QUANTITATIVE DATA AND LOW VACUUM SCANNING MICROSCOPY

Assessing heavy metal exposure in Renaissance Europe using synchrotron microbeam techniques

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