Bioarchaeological investigation of individuals with suspected multibacillary leprosy from the mediaeval < em > leprosarium < /em > of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester, Hampshire, UK

Conclusions. The presence of Mycobacterium leprae DNA was confirmed in both females, and genotyping showed SNP type 3I-1 strains but with a clear genotypic variation. We could not confirm Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in the female individual SK.45. High levels of M. leprae DNA were found within the pulp cavities of four maxillary teeth from the male child (Sk.8) with LO, consistent with the theory that the replication of M. leprae in alveolar bone may interfere with root formation at key stages of development. We report our biomolecular findings in these individuals and review the evidence this site has contributed to our knowledge of mediaeval leprosy.PMID:38362924 | DOI:10.1099/jmm.0.001806
Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research