In a groundbreaking discovery, genetic sleuths have found that red squirrels in Britain may have carried leprosy to the UK, with DNA taken from a fifth-century victim of the disease in Essex revealing the same strain of leprosy bacteria carried by red squirrels today. The discovery, published in the journal Science, sheds new light on the history of leprosy in Britain and the potential role of wildlife in the spread of the disease.
Genetic Analysis Reveals Shared Strain
Researchers extracted DNA from the skeletal remains of a medieval individual found in an ancient cemetery in Essex, England. Through genetic analysis, they were able to identify the presence of Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, in the individual’s bones. Surprisingly, the strain of the bacteria matched the one found in present-day red squirrels in Britain, suggesting a potential connection between the spread of leprosy and the rodents.
Implications for the History of Leprosy in Britain
The finding challenges the prevailing view that leprosy was primarily introduced to Britain through human migration and trade routes. Instead, it raises the possibility that red squirrels, which were widespread in Britain during the medieval period, may have played a role in the transmission of the disease to humans. This discovery could rewrite the history of leprosy in the UK and highlight the importance of considering wildlife as potential reservoirs for infectious diseases.