Lecture on paleopathology as part of the course of history of medicine

1. Paleopathology
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2. WEEK 9
http://www.ted.com/talks/christina_warinner_trackin
g_ancient_diseases_using_plaque.html
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3. Paleopathology
 I. DEFINITION:
 Is the study of ancient diseases and
other ailments as found in human and
animal remains and in the remains of
other organisms .
 this term was coined in the early 1890’s
by Sir Marc Armand Ruffer.
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4. Paleopathology
Main applications:
 1. To study historical epidemics.
 2. To study birth defects
 3. Through understanding the past history
of diseases, paleopathologists can better
understand current illnesses and help
predict future illnesses.
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5. Paleopathology
 II. WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY AND
PRACTICE OF PP?
 1. Paleopathologists
 2. Anthropologists
 3. Archeologists
 4. Geneticists
 5. Molecular biologists
 6. Forensic pathologists
 7. Epidemiologists (to obtain census data about
ancient populations)
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6. Paleopathology
 III. WHAT DO THEY STUDY?
 1. HUMAN SKELETON – Bones (osteoarthritis)
(difficulty detecting ancient diseases given that
tissue deteriorates faster than bone. There have
been significant discoveries of soft tissue diseases
with the aid of well-preserved Egyptian mummies)
2. HUMAN TEETH , PLAQUE AND SOFT TISSUE
3. ANIMAL SOFT TISSUE, BONES, TEETH, GASTRIC
CONTENT
4. HUMAN AND ANIMAL WASTE
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7. Paleopathology
 IV. WHAT DO THEY FIND?
1. Ruffer’s important findings:
(evidence of tuberculosis and detection of
calcified Schistosoma eggs in the preserved
kidneys of mummies in ancient Egypt).
The study of Schistosoma in ancient populations is a
good example of how paleopathology can be used to
help defeat modern disease, as the parasite continued
to thrive well beyond the time of the ancient Egyptians
in some parts of the world.
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8. Paleopathology
 IV. WHAT DO THEY FIND? (cont’d)
2. Leprosy
3. Syphilis
4. Bubonic or black plague (findings of Yersinia
pestis DNA in many graves)
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9. Paleopathology
V. HOW DO THEY FIND IT?
1. MACRO and MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS
2. CT scans.
3. PCR (Protein chain reaction)
4. INFRARED RAYS
5. CARBON 14
6. IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE
7. OTHER METHODS… (spectroscopy,
absorptiometry…)
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10. Paleopathology
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11. Paleopathology
VI. WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE DATA OBTAINED?
1. Analyze, interpret and report results for accurate
population studies.
2. The paleopathology researchers determine a
number of key biological indicators on the specimen
including age and sex.
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12. Paleopathology
VI. WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE DATA OBTAINED? (cont…)
3. Analysis of bone material and evaluation of
lesions or other anomalies identified.
4. Forensic anthropology looks at the
Paleopathology of certain diseases to determine if
the diseases they are researching are still present
over time (prevalence), the occurrence
(incidence/risk) of certain events, or if this disease
still exists today and why this disease may not exist
today.
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13. Paleopathology
(mummies do not speak but you must make them
talk)
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