Ancient DNA Uncovers 4,000-Year-Old Leprosy in the Americas
TL;DR Summary
Ancient DNA from 4,000-year-old skeletons in Chile reveals a rare form of leprosy caused by Mycobacterium lepromatosis, suggesting the disease existed in the Americas before European contact and challenging previous beliefs that leprosy was introduced during colonial times.
- Rare form of leprosy infected people in Americas before European arrival, 4,000-year-old bones suggest Live Science
- Ancient DNA reveals rare leprosy strain in the Americas thousands of years before European contact Archaeology News Online Magazine
- Mysterious Leprosy Pathogen Has Lurked in The Americas For 4,000 Years Yahoo
- 4,000-year-old Mycobacterium lepromatosis genomes from Chile reveal long establishment of Hansen’s disease in the Americas Nature
- Scientists Find Genetic Evidence of Leprosy in Ancient American Populations Indian Defence Review
Reading Insights
Total Reads
0
Unique Readers
1
Time Saved
4 min
vs 4 min read
Condensed
95%
801 → 38 words
Want the full story? Read the original article
Read on Live Science