Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex in an individual of the first millennium A.D. from Saujil, province of Catamarca, Argentina

ARANDA, CLAUDIA; MINNIKIN, DAVID; BESRA, GURDYAL; LUNA, LEANDRO; DONOGHUE, HELEN; WU, HOUDINI; SANTOS, ANA LUISA; LEE, OONA; RATTO, NORMA

Arica

Congreso; VII Paleopathological Association Meeting in South America (PAMinSA); 2017

Universidad de Tarapacá

Tuberculosis has affected human populations in South America from at leastca. A.D. 700. In Argentina, the possible cases date from ca. A.D. 1000 to 1400. Our paper describes the lesions attributable to that disease in a young adult male from the town of Saujil, Catamarca, Argentina. This burialwas dated to 1091±22 years B.P. (YU-1525; two sigma calibration: A.D. 905-1030) and presents a very good state of preservation.Macroscopically, new bone formation is seen on the proximal third of several ribs (mainly between the sixth and eleventh) and in areas of the long bones, compatible with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, as well as osteolytic evidencein the bodies of the lower spine (ninth dorsal to fourth lumbar). Radiographic images show osteolytic foci in some vertebral bodies. This evidence suggests a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis infection. Subsequently, bone samples were analyzed for M. tuberculosis complex lipid biomarkers according tostandardized protocols (Lee et al. 2012). A positive profile was identified for C27-C32 mycocerosic acids in both first ribs, supported by typical mycolic acid profiles that agreed with the M. tuberculosis standard. Finally, sampleswere analyzed by PCR for M. tuberculosis complex ancient DNA (Donoghue et al. 2005; O?Rourke et al. 2000; Taylor et al. 2010). A positive result for IS6110 was obtained from the tenth left rib. This is one of the oldest cases of M.tuberculosis in Argentina. Possible routes of infection were assessed. By the end of the first millennium A.D. there was high population density, household overcrowding, movements of populations and spatial circumscription ofvillages, all factors likely to favor transmission of tuberculosis.