title: Paleomicrobiology of Leprosy.
abstract: The use of paleomicrobiological techniques in leprosy has the potential to assist paleopathologists in many important aspects of their studies on the bones of victims, solving at times diagnostic problems. With Mycobacterium leprae, because of the unique nature of the organism, these techniques can help solve problems of differential diagnosis. In cases of co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, they can also suggest a cause of death and possibly even trace the migratory patterns of people in antiquity, as well as explain changes in the rates and level of infection within populations in antiquity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection & Immunity, University College London, London, UK.|Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Ancient DNA, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spigelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Archaeology Foggia University, Foggia, Italy.|Anthropological Service of Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Lazio (Ministry of Culture), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubini
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000382:microbiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000382:microbiology; D005580:Fossils / Q000382:microbiology*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history*; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010164:Paleopathology / Q000379:methods