Squirrels May Have Given Medieval Britons Leprosy, Study Suggests

 

Squirrels May Have Given Medieval Britons Leprosy, Study Suggests

A groundbreaking study has revealed that humans may have contracted leprosy from squirrels in medieval England. Researchers analyzed human and red squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, and discovered that they shared closely related strains of the bacteria that causes leprosy.

Leprosy, a chronic disease that attacks the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes, has been present in human history for thousands of years. While it is no longer endemic in the UK, it still affects over 200,000 people worldwide annually. The disease is typically transmitted between humans through prolonged, close contact, but this study suggests that animals may have played a role in its spread in the past.

The research team, led by Dr. Sarah Inskip of the University of Leicester, found that medieval red squirrels carried a strain of leprosy that was closely related to the strain found in human remains from the same period. This suggests that there was a circulation of the disease between humans and animals in medieval times, which had not been detected before.

In medieval England, red squirrels were popular pets, and their fur was widely used to trim and line clothes. It is possible that humans contracted leprosy from squirrels through direct contact or by handling infected animal products. However, it is also possible that squirrels contracted leprosy from humans, as the disease can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and other bodily fluids.

The study analyzed 25 human and 12 squirrel samples from archaeological sites in Winchester, including a leprosarium (hospital for people with leprosy) and a nearby pit used by furriers. The results showed that the leprosy strain found in medieval squirrels was closely related to the strain found in modern red squirrels from Scotland and Brownsea Island off the coast of southern England.

While the risk of humans contracting leprosy from squirrels is considered very low, this study highlights the complex history of the disease and the need for further research into its transmission and spread. As Prof. Verena Schünemann of the University of Basel in Switzerland noted, "The history of leprosy is far more complex than previously thought... There has been no consideration of the role that animals might have played in the transmission and spread of the disease in the past, and as such, our understanding of leprosy's history is incomplete until these hosts are considered."

Dr. Stephen Walker, Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, agreed that animals may have played a role in the transmission of leprosy, but emphasized that more research is needed to understand the size of this role globally.

This study has significant implications for our understanding of leprosy's history and transmission. It highlights the need for further research into the role of animals in the spread of the disease and the importance of considering the complex interactions between humans and animals in the past. As we continue to work towards reducing the impact of leprosy globally, this study reminds us that there is still much to be learned about this ancient disease.