Christopher Columbus has been historically accused of introducing syphilis-like diseases to the Americas, but a recent study reveals the disease's presence thousands of years prior.
The documented onset of a syphilis epidemic in late 15th-century Europe fueled the belief that Columbus brought it to America, but DNA evidence now shows treponematosis, a syphilis-like disease, existed in Brazil over 2,000 years before Columbus arrived. Left untreated, treponematosis can lead to disfiguring lesions and bone, cartilage, and skin deformities, causing pain and disability.
Colorized electron micrograph of Treponema pallidum, the bacteria that cause syphilis. Several spiral-shaped bacteria have been highlighted in gold.
Europe's First Known Syphilis Outbreak
In 1492, Christopher Columbus embarked on his famous journey, not only connecting the Old World with the New but possibly introducing a new disease to Europe upon his return. Previous research findings suggest that Columbus and his crew might have brought syphilis back from the Americas.
Shortly after Columbus's expedition, a plague erupted among French soldiers in Italy, spreading rapidly across the continent and earning the name the 'Great Pox.' This event marked the beginning of Europe's first documented outbreak of syphilis, caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria.
Syphilis, now treatable with antibiotics, can lead to severe complications if left untreated, affecting the heart, brain, eyes, and bones, and potentially proving fatal. The disease's first known epidemic occurred during the Renaissance in 1495, originating among the troops of Charles VIII after the French king invades Naples and subsequently wreaking havoc across Europe.
Molly Zuckerman, a researcher at Mississippi State University, emphasizes the ongoing debate about syphilis's origin, which has persisted for centuries since its emergence. As one of the earliest global diseases, unraveling its historical roots may offer insights into combating contemporary illnesses.
Debunking the Columbian Hypothesis
The origin of syphilis has been a subject of historical debate, often associated with Christopher Columbus and the New World. However, an international research team's discovery challenges this Columbian hypothesis.
Analyzing ancient bones in Brazil from about 780 B.C., researchers identified an ancient bacterial subspecies of syphilis, that caused bone lesions. Belonging to the same genus as syphilis, it is more closely related to a modern pathogen causing bejel, a non-sexually transmitted treponemal disease prevalent in arid regions.
The unexpected finding suggests that treponemal diseases existed in South America before Columbus, but they differed from the venereal disease that later affected Europe. The study's lead, environmental scientist Kerttu Majander, highlights that the findings depict an endemic treponemal disease rather than sexually transmitted syphilis.
The Brazilian study, titled "Redefining the treponemal history through pre-Columbian genomes from Brazil" published in the journal Nature, addresses these limitations, suggesting widespread ancient treponemes adapted to diverse climates. Lesions resembling syphilis found in 9,900-year-old Mexican cave bones hint at a broader geographical and temporal distribution.
Archaeologist Verena Schünemann notes that the absence of sexually transmitted syphilis in South America challenges the theory that Columbus introduced it to Europe. The team encourages further investigations into ancient bacterial DNA in human remains across the continent, broadening our understanding of syphilis origins.
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