A Possible Case of β‐Thalassemia From the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli (Piedmont, Northern Italy,18th Century)
Dados Bibliográficos
| ID | 12371154 |
|---|---|
| Autores | Roberta Fusco (0000-0001-5443-8364, Department of Biotechnology and Life Science University of Insubria Varese Italy, autor correspondente), Chiara Tesi (0000-0001-9867-4211, University of Insubria), Alessandra Mazzucchi (0000-0001-5867-9253, University of Padua), Arianna Vanni (0009-0001-3162-7696, University of Insubria), Marta Licata (0000-0003-3343-3999, University of Insubria) |
| Ano | 2025 |
| Volume | 35 |
| Fascículo | 5 |
| Páginas | 341-350 |
| Data de publicação | 2025-08-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Sim |
| Open Access | Sim |
| Tipo | ARTICLE |
| Periódico | International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Identificadores do periódico | ISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212 |
| Editora | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/oa.70031 |
| OpenAlex | W4413698968 |
| Idioma | EN |
| Referências citadas | 46 |
In Italy's Piedmont region, the city of Vercelli has a history of malaria transmission due to favorable conditions for Anopheles mosquitoes, which may have influenced the genetic prevalence of thalassemia. This study investigates the skeletal remains of a nonadult individual from the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, dating to the 18th century, and suggests possible pathological changes indicative of β‐thalassemia. The skeletal analysis reveals extensive pitting, marrow hyperplasia, cortical thinning, scalloped epiphyses, and a distinctive “rib‐within‐a‐rib” radiological appearance, which could be consistent with β‐thalassemia major and intermedia. While thalassemia is currently prevalent in Piedmont, no prior paleopathological evidence of the condition has been reported. This study highlights the diagnostic challenges in identifying β‐thalassemia in ancient populations due to similarities with other anemias and the absence of ancient DNA. The importance of combining skeletal analysis with historical and environmental contexts is emphasized to improve diagnostic accuracy. This research provides new insights into the historical presence of β‐thalassemia in Vercelli and underscores the potential influence of environmental factors and genetic disorders
Ancient history · Archaeology · Geography · Northern italy · Forensic and Genetic Research · Genital Health and Disease · Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders · History
The Study of Metabolic Bone Disease in Bioarchaeology
Increasing confidence in paleopathological diagnosis – Application of the Istanbul terminological framework
Differential diagnosis of a probable case of non-adult thalassaemia from 4th century AD Romano-British Colchester, UK
Cribriotic lesions in archaeological human skeletal remains. Prevalence, co-occurrence, and association in medieval and early modern Netherlands
Recognition of sickle cell anemia in skeletal remains of children
Autopsy or anatomical dissection? Comparative analysis of an osteoarchaeological sample from an 18-19th century hypogeal cemetery (northern Italy)
The skeletal manifestation of malaria
The causes of porotic hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia
Postnatal growth of the frontal and parietal bones in white males
Possible thalassemia intermedia in a child (16th–18th century) from the westernmost part of Europe
Thalassaemia
A new investigative strategy to diagnose β-thalassemia syndrome in past human populations
From a dry bone to a genetic portrait
Frequency and co-occurrence of porous skeletal lesions in identified non-adults from Portugal (19th to 20th centuries) and its association with respiratory infections as cause of death
Cribra orbitalia and cribra cranii in Roman skeletal remains from the Ravenna area and Rimini (I-IV century AD)
Thalassemia
Elongated styloid process of an autopsied skull from the Cemetery of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vercelli, 18th-19th century (Piedmont, northern Italy)
| Velocidade de citação | historical |
|---|---|
| Altamente citado | Não |