The research suggesting that humans may have caught leprosy from squirrels in medieval times sheds new light on the transmission dynamics of the disease. Here's a breakdown:
Study Findings: Researchers analyzed human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England. They found closely related strains of the bacteria that causes leprosy in both humans and squirrels.
Leprosy: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. While it is no longer common in the UK, it remains endemic in many parts of the world. Armadillos are known carriers of leprosy and have been suspected of transmitting it to humans.
Squirrels as Hosts: Modern red squirrels in the UK have been found to carry leprosy, although there have been no reported cases of transmission to humans, and the risk is considered very low. This discovery marks the first time that a medieval animal has been identified as a host for leprosy.
Transmission Dynamics: The study suggests that leprosy may have been circulating between humans and animals, particularly squirrels, in medieval times. It's unclear whether humans gave leprosy to squirrels or vice versa, but the shared strain indicates a previously unrecognized interaction between the two species.
Historical Context: Squirrels were commonly used for their fur, which was used as a fine lining for clothes in medieval times. Additionally, some people kept pet squirrels, particularly popular among women. These factors may have facilitated the transmission of leprosy between humans and squirrels.
Overall, this research challenges the notion that leprosy was exclusively a human disease in medieval times and highlights the complex interplay between humans and animals in the transmission of infectious diseases.
Humans may have caught leprosy from squirrels in medieval times, researchers say.
They studied human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, and found they had closely related strains of the bacteria that causes it.
Leprosy is a chronic disease infectious between humans that attacks the skin, nerves and mucous membranes. No-one is thought to have caught it inside the UK for 70 years but it's still endemic in many parts of the world.
Armadillos carry it and are suspected of passing it on to humans. Some modern red squirrels in the UK also have it, but there has never been a reported case of transmission to humans and experts say the risk is very low.
It’s the first time a medieval animal has been identified as a host for the disease.
"The finding of leprosy in modern squirrels was surprising and then it's incredible that we found it in the medieval period," said study co-author Dr Sarah Inskip of the University of Leicester.
"It really goes against the narrative that it was a human disease specifically," she said.
It's not clear whether squirrels in medieval times gave humans leprosy or the other way around.
But the shared strain suggests it was circulating between people and animals in the Middle Ages in a way that hadn’t been detected before, the researchers say.
Back then, squirrel fur was used as a fine lining for clothes and some people also had pet squirrels. They were particularly popular with women.
The researchers studied 25 human and 12 squirrel samples.
The human remains came from a Winchester leprosarium (hospital for people with leprosy) and the squirrel remains from a nearby pit used by furriers.
Previous studies found that modern red squirrels from Scotland and Brownsea Island off the coast of southern England carry leprosy.
Public health England says the probability of humans catching it from squirrels is very low and there has never been a reported transmission.
Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in human history and is still present in Asia, Africa, and South America.
There are more than 200,000 new cases reported every year.
It's not known exactly how it spreads between people but prolonged, close contact with someone untreated, over many months, is needed to catch the disease.
“The history of leprosy is far more complex than previously thought,” said senior author of the study, Prof Verena Schünemann of the University of Basel in Switzerland.
“There has been no consideration of the role that animals might have played in the transmission and spread of the disease in the past, and as such, our understanding of leprosy’s history is incomplete until these hosts are considered."
Dr Stephen Walker, Associate Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: "There's no doubt that in certain circumstances animals do appear to play a role, but the size of that role in global terms of leprosy hasn't been delineated and I would agree, does need more work.
"I think it highlights that we still have a lot of work to do to understand the transmission of this ancient disease better, in our efforts to try and reduce the impact globally."
The discovery that humans may have caught leprosy from squirrels in medieval times presents intriguing insights into the history and transmission of this ancient disease. Here's a closer look at the key points from the research findings:
Research Details: Researchers studied human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England. They found closely related strains of the bacteria that causes leprosy in both humans and squirrels.
Leprosy Overview: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. While it is no longer common in the UK, it remains endemic in many parts of the world. Armadillos are known carriers, and there has been speculation about their role in transmitting the disease to humans.
Medieval Context: This discovery challenges the traditional understanding that leprosy was exclusively a human disease in medieval times. The shared strain between humans and squirrels suggests a previously unrecognized interaction between the two species.
Transmission Dynamics: It's unclear whether squirrels transmitted leprosy to humans or vice versa in medieval times. However, the finding indicates that the disease was circulating between people and animals during that period.
Squirrel Fur Use: Squirrel fur was commonly used as a fine lining for clothes in medieval times, and some people also kept pet squirrels, particularly popular among women. These practices may have facilitated the transmission of leprosy between humans and squirrels.
Study Sample: The study examined 25 human and 12 squirrel samples, with human remains coming from a Winchester leprosarium and squirrel remains from a nearby pit used by furriers.
Public Health Perspective: While modern red squirrels in the UK have been found to carry leprosy, there have been no reported cases of transmission to humans. Public Health England states that the probability of humans catching leprosy from squirrels is very low.
Global Impact: Leprosy remains a significant health concern in many parts of the world, with over 200,000 new cases reported annually. Understanding the transmission dynamics, including the potential role of animals, is essential for effective control and prevention efforts.
In conclusion, this research underscores the complexity of leprosy's history and transmission dynamics, emphasizing the need for further study to fully comprehend its global impact and inform public health strategies.
