Parasites Unearthed in 500-Year-Old Toilet Expose Surprising Medieval Disease Networks
The discovery of a 500-year-old African parasite in a Bruges latrine offers new insights into how medieval trade networks facilitated the spread of infectious diseases. Linked to Spanish merchants and global commerce, this finding sheds light on historical health challenges and human migration patterns.
Published in Parasitology, the study uncovers one of the earliest known cases of schistosomiasis outside Africa. This disease, caused by the waterborne parasite Schistosoma mansoni, penetrates the skin, travels through the bloodstream, and reproduces in the intestines. Remarkably, researchers found a preserved parasite egg in a 15th-century latrine, located thousands of kilometers from the parasite’s endemic region.
The latrine, uncovered during a 1996 excavation and recently analyzed, belonged to Bruges’ Spanish Nation House. As the administrative hub for Castilian merchants, this site was central to trade in African goods like gold and spices, as well as involvement in the early Atlantic slave trade. Consequently, researchers believe that these trade networks also facilitated the unexpected spread of diseases.
Medieval Bruges: A Hub of Trade and Disease Transmission
“Our findings reveal just how interconnected medieval urban life truly was,” says Maxime Poulain, an archaeologist at Ghent University. “Not only does this provide novel insight into daily life in medieval Bruges, but it also underscores how cities like Bruges, as international hubs of trade, inevitably became conduits for the spread of infectious diseases.”
Furthermore, the research highlights the importance of analyzing organic remains, which can provide critical information about the health, hygiene, and mobility of historical populations. Looking ahead, lead researcher Marissa Ledger plans to study the parasite’s genetics to compare its ancient makeup with modern counterparts.
“Understanding these parasites over time gives us valuable insight into how migration influences disease patterns,” Ledger explains. “Even centuries ago, human movement effectively carried diseases across long distances. This historical context is incredibly useful for modern disease studies.”
Read Original Article: SciTechDaily
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