[Contribution of palaeopathology to defining the pathocoenosis of infectious diseases (Part two)].
In the second part of their review the authors focus on palaeopathological studies, performed in mummified tissues, with reference to infectious diseases. The analysis of samples obtained from both natural and artificial mummies may provide, in some favourable events, a more complete knowledge of these findings in comparison to information obtained from only comprehensive examination of the skeleton. The acquired data enable us to understand not only the diseases which afflicted mankind, but also dietary and hygiene conditions of ancient populations. We report knowledge acquired regarding some palaeopathological conditions, including schistosomiasis, smallpox, cisticercosis, trichinosis, ascaridiasis, echinococcosis, filariasis, hepatitis E virus, condylomatosis, pulmonary tubercolosis, pediculosis, visceral leishmaniasis as well as Diphyllobotrium sp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Fasciola hepatica infestations. In addition some interesting findings concerning the relationship between dietary and food intake colonized by streptomyces are described. This review reports the discovery of human remains from different geographic areas: while most of these studies describe findings in two Mediterranean countries (Italy and Egypt), some refer to Britain and German-speaking countries (Austria and Germany) as well as the area in Africa known as Nubia, along the Nile. Both histological and biomolecular diagnosis are useful not only to identify a specific disease in a subject from the remote past, but also to achieve information concerning its frequency and evolution. Such knowledge may thus allow us to understand the intensity of cultural exchanges and links among different populations and the role of these relationships in transmitting and spreading infectious diseases in a certain geographic area.
Unita Operativa di Malattie Infettive, Unita Operativa di Medicina Interna, Ospedale Civile di Budrio, Bologna, Italy.
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D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history*; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D009106:Mummies / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010164:Paleopathology; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D012899:Smallpox / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000266:history; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology