Histological identification of syphilis in pre‐Columbian England

Abstract

Microscopic analyses served to complement the macroscopic identification of venereal syphilis in two of four pre-Columbian skeletons from the site Hull Magistrates Court in England. Diagnosis was based on parameters presented by Schultz ([1994] Origin of Syphilis in Europe, Toulon: Centre Archaeologique du Var, p. 63-67; [2001] Yrbk. Phys. Anthropol. 44:106-147; [2003] Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Remains, New York: Academic Press, p. 73-109), which characterized venereal syphilis at a histological level. Observation of the microarchitecture of these samples allowed a more comprehensive approach to identification of the disease (processes). In most samples, Polsters and Grenzstreifen (or remnants of such structures) could be identified, suggesting the presence of a chronic, inflammatory disease such as venereal syphilis. Sinous lacunae were also observed in all histological samples, pointing to lytic activity (osteitis). The combination of both proliferative and destructive processes is pathognomonic for syphilis, and histological analyses provided a more accurate diagnosis of this infectious disease in these four individuals. As a result, the histological evidence suggests that venereal syphilis was present in England prior to 1492. This secondary form of evidence supports the macroscopic identification of the disease, and shows the power of a multimethodological approach to paleopathological diagnoses.

Below the Callus Surface: Applying Paleohistological Techniques to Understand the Biology of Bone Healing in Skeletonized Human Remains

“…The presence of a cloaca and the observation of small patches of intracortical lamellae or ‘Grenzstreifen' confirm that this individual had developed a posttraumatic osteomyelitis. Albeit more common in specific infections characterized by slowly growing new bone formation (treponematoses) [35,36,37,61], ‘Grenzstreifen' may also occur in cases of nonspecific osteomyelitis [37]. In the case under discussion, the ‘Grenzstreifen' separates the original cortical bone affected by trauma from a secondary inflammatory process imposed by osteomyelitis.…”

Treponemal disease in the Old World? Integrated palaeopathological assessment of a 9th–11th century skeleton from north-central Spain

“…In recent years, some authors have reported lesions compatible with acquired syphilis in Pre-Columbian skeletons in regions as distant as Britain (Stirland, 1991;Mays et al, 2003Mays et al, , 2012von Hunnius et al, 2006;Cole and Waldron, 2011), central Europe (Gaul et al, 2015), and the eastern Mediterranean (Mitchell, 2003(Mitchell, , 2009Erdal, 2006). These findings, if their palaeopathological assessments are correct, support a view different to the Columbian hypothesis: the Pre-Columbian hypothesis.…”

“…Thus, there is no histological, biochemical, immunological, or microbiological technique that can be used to distinguish them (Noordhoek et al, 1990;, Waldron, 2009). This led syphilis long being called "the great imitator" (Ehrlich and Kricun, 1976;Sefton, 2001), as both its clinical pathogenesis and skeletal alterations are very similar to other diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis, Paget's disease, or haematogenous osteomyelitis (von Hunnius et al, 2006). Thus, in archaeological specimens it is very difficult to achieve a differential diagnosis, especially for an incomplete skeleton.…”

Paleohistology and the study of human remains: past, present and future approaches

“…Eshed et al, 2002;Luna et al, 2008); and specific and non-specific infectious diseases, 23% or (22/94) (e.g. Wakely et al, 1991;Von Hunnius et al, 2006;Weston, 2009). The lowest values were obtained in the analysis of combined pathologies (5.3%) and bone trauma (4.3%) (e.g.…”