A possible case of coccidioidomycosis from the Los Muertos site, Tempe, Arizona

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease endemic to southwestern North America and parts of Central and South America. Coccidioidomycosis frequently disseminates to the human skeleton and produces mostly lytic skeletal lesions. However, this disease is infrequently described within archaeological populations. As a result, it is important to report potential cases in order to improve current understanding of the appearance and distribution of lesions resulting from coccidioidomycosis in archaeological specimens. This study describes skeletal lesions in an adult male recovered from the Los Muertos site, Tempe, Arizona (AD 500-1450). These lesions are present on the inferior border of the left scapular spine, the medial portion of the left first metacarpal head, and the medial portion of the right first metatarsal. The lesions are predominantly lytic with sclerotic and, in some cases, healed cortical bone distributed around their margins. Evidence of skeletal healing is recorded within the destructive focus of one lesion. Geographical information on pathogen endemism, overall lesion distribution, and agricultural-era Hohokom behaviour suggest that coccidioidomycosis is the most likely diagnostic option for these lesions. Mounting evidence for possible infections in the palaeopathological literature, combined with high frequencies of nutritional stress levels in endemic regions, suggests that coccidioidomycosis contributed at least moderately to morbidity in the American Southwest.

Insights from paleomicrobiology into the indigenous peoples of pre-colonial America - A Review

“…This research was carried out before PCR was a widespread technique used in paleomicrobiology, so there were no DNA analyses carried out to confirm the diagnosis. Evidence of ancient cocci- dioidomycosis infection has also been reported by Temple (2006) in the Los Muertos site in Arizona, which is still an endemic region for coccidioidomycosis today. An ancient adult male of the Hohokum population was found in this region dated to approximately 1150 AD, with lesions suggestive of the disease.…”

A probable case of subligamentous tuberculous spondylitis: The concealed body of the Late Modern Period (early 16th century to early 20th century), Franciscan crypt of St. Anthony and St. Eusebius church, Lombardy, Italy

“…They are rare pathologies, producing multiple rounded lesions with smooth margins and remodelled floor. Hershkovitz described precisely and efficiently the evidences related to Actinomycosis as “space‐occupying mass lesions” (Hershkovitz, Rothschild, Dutour, & Greenwald, ; Ortner, ; Temple, ). The difference between this pattern and the single cystic lesion found in Azzio No.…”

Tuberculosis on the north coast of Peru: skeletal and molecular paleopathology of late pre-Hispanic and postcontact mycobacterial disease

“…Paracoccidioidomycosis lesions are well-defined, circular processes often associated with sclerotic or reparative margins observed on vertebrae, clavicles, ribs, and long bones (Carter, 1931(Carter, , 1934Dalinka and Greendyke, 1972). Yet, observed lesion characteristics and distribution differ significantly from those of paracoccidioidomycosis: Mycoses generally involve non-contiguous vertebral elements (Dalinka and Greendyke, 1972;Long and Merbs, 1981;Temple, 2006) and frequently involve transverse vertebral processes (Dalinka et al, 1971;Dalinka and Greendyke, 1972).…”