The skeletal manifestation of malaria: An epidemiological approach using documented skeletal collections

Smith-Guzmán, Nicole E.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.22819

Cited by 60 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Apart from all these conditions, at that time, malaria was a disease present both in Africa and Portugal (Morais, ). Recent studies suggested that such disease may be in the origin of several skeletal lesions, namely, a combination of cribra orbitalia, cribra humeralis, cribra femoralis, and porotic hyperostosis (Smith‐Guzman, ), which is precisely the type of lesions recorded. Therefore, it should not be excluded the hypothesis of some of these lesions had been caused by malaria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth faltering in a skeletal sample of enslaved nonadult Africans found at Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)

Wasterlain

Costa

Ferreira

2018

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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In 2009, a salvage archaeological excavation in Valle da Gafaria (Lagos, Portugal) brought to light the skeletal remains of 158 African enslaved individuals (15th–17th centuries), from which several presented intentional dental modifications on their anterior dentition. Although this cultural practice may be related to rites of passage, differential status, group identification, mourning, or embellishment, it is not exempt from risk. Among the possible consequences are pulp necrosis, dental caries in the modified surface, loss of masticatory function, and dental enamel hypoplasia in the permanent teeth. A previous study in the Lagos collection already confirmed that anterior modified teeth were significantly more affected by periapical lesions (9.3%) than unmodified teeth (0.4%). Therefore, the aim of this investigation is to analyse the relationship between dental caries and intentional dental modification in the Lagos sample. Eighty‐one individuals were analysed, making a total of 2,285 alveoli and 2,063 teeth (757 anterior and 1,306 posterior). Dental caries was recorded if there was a discernible, even if small, white or brown lesion in the otherwise translucent enamel, or if there was a cavity. Intentional dental modifications were recorded according to their presence and incisal angles removed. Dental caries affected 78 individuals (96.3%) and 1,072 teeth (52.0%). In all, intentional dental modifications were observed in 50 (61.7%) individuals and 203 (27.1%) anterior teeth. Modified teeth were significantly more affected by caries (84.2%) than nonmodified teeth (31.7%). Given that all modifications involved the removal of the mesial and/or distal angles of the teeth, the relationship between these alterations and the presence of caries was investigated. In fact, when modified, mesial and distal contact areas were significantly more affected by caries, although mostly noncavitated, supporting the hypothesis that this cultural practice turns teeth more prone to dental caries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth faltering in a skeletal sample of enslaved nonadult Africans found at Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)

Wasterlain

Costa

Ferreira

2018

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…). The protozoal parasite that causes malaria leaves telltale signs on the skeletal remains of humans, suggesting that disease pathology might be a useful indicator of infection for some parasites (Smith‐Guzmán ). The plausible span for study of parasites in fossilized remains stretches back to the Devonian, approximately 400 million years BP.…”

Section: Archaeo‐ and Paleoparasitologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

Harmon

Littlewood

Wood

2019

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Recent decades have brought countless outbreaks of infectious disease among wildlife. These events appear to be increasing in frequency and magnitude, but to objectively evaluate whether ecosystems are experiencing rising rates of disease, scientists require historical data on disease abundance. Specimens held in natural history collections represent a chronological archive of life on Earth and may, in many cases, be the only available source of data on historical disease patterns. It is possible to extract information on past disease rates by studying trace fossils (indirect fossilized evidence of an organism's presence or activity, including coprolites or feces), sequencing ancient DNA of parasites, and examining sediment samples, mummified remains, study skins (preserved animal skins prepared by taxidermy for research purposes), liquid‐preserved hosts, and hosts preserved in amber. Such use of natural history collections could expand scientific understanding of parasite responses to environmental change across deep time (that is, over the past several centuries), facilitating the development of baselines for managing contemporary wildlife disease.

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“…The specific archaeological sites were: 1) Pre-Nuragic-Ossi, "S'adde 'e Asile", [33] and other localities [24] [34]- [39]. Paleopathologists of the Mediterranean basin consider skeletal remains with PH to be a sign of chronic hemolytic anemia caused by malaria, thalassemia, and sickle cell disease.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Osteological Data on Malaria in Sardinia from Antiquity to the Modern Era

Tognotti¹,

Montella²,

Brown³

et al. 2017

AID

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Malaria has been an important disease throughout the history, particularly in the Mediterranean. The island of Sardinia (Italy) was characterized by severe endemic malaria from antiquity until its eradication in 1950. It provides an exceptional and unique site to examine the history of the disease and its effects on human biology and ecology. Endemic malaria can cause chronic hemolytic anemias that may result in osteological signatures. This paper examines these markers, Porotic Hyperostosis (PH) and Cribra Orbitalia (CO), which are identified from skeletons uncovered in archaeological excavations in Northern Sardinia. Previous hypotheses based on historical references and genetic data suggest that the disease was absent on the island in prehistory and was imported, probably by slaves, during the Carthaginian period (6th to 3rd century BC). This article reports on the paleontological analysis of 283 skeletons excavated from seven archeological sites dating from 4700 BP to 1582 AD. Osteological remains were examined for markers CO and PH as a proxy variable for malaria. The findings support previous hypotheses about history of malaria over time.

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The skeletal manifestation of malaria: An epidemiological approach using documented skeletal collections

Cited by 60 publications

References 52 publications

Growth faltering in a skeletal sample of enslaved nonadult Africans found at Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)

Growth faltering in a skeletal sample of enslaved nonadult Africans found at Lagos, Portugal (15th–17th centuries)

Parasites lost: using natural history collections to track disease change across deep time

New Osteological Data on Malaria in Sardinia from Antiquity to the Modern Era

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