Two cases of cystic echinococcosis reported from al ‐Andalus cemeteries (southern Iberia): Insights into zoonotic diseases in Islamic Medieval Europe

We report the presence of two fragmented ovoidal calcified formations associated with human remains in different medieval Islamic cemeteries from the Kingdom of Granada in al-Andal us (Southern Iberia, 13th–15th centuries AD). These formations were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The localization, morphology, and composition of the calcifications indicate that they are hydatid cysts caused byE. granulosus, representing the first evidence of cystic echinococcosis in Islamic Medieval Europe. Our results are in line with archeological and historical records of human –animal interactions and agropastoral practices in al-Andalus, and they highlight the importance of analyzing calcified masses in the osteoarcheological record.
Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - Category: Science Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research