Leprosy in individuals unearthed near the Ermida de Santo André and Leprosarium of Beja, Portugal

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6135418
AutoresNathalie Antunes‐ferreira (0000-0002-0146-6369, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Caparica), Vítor Matos (0000-0003-2620-7352, University of Coimbra), Ana Luisa Santos (0000-0001-6073-1532, University of Coimbra)
Ano2013
Volume121
Fascículo3
Páginas149-159
Data de publicação2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAnthropological Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0918-7960 • E-ISSN: 1348-8570
EditoraAnthropological Society of Nippon (PUBLISHER • JP)
DOI10.1537/ase.130702
OpenAlexW2102910880
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas5
Referências citadas50

Documentary sources refer to leprosy patients in the Portuguese territory since the first \ncentury AD, and in the Middle Ages around 70 leprosaria were established. However, prior to 2003 \nthis historical evidence had not been confirmed by archeological findings. The excavation performed \nin monitoring the rehabilitation done by the Polis program in the area of the Ermida de Santo André \n(hermitage of Saint Andrew) allowed the exhumation of seven human skeletons, and commingled \nbones from at least three individuals, in the vicinity of the Beja leprosarium. The objective of this study \nis to present the paleopathological lesions relevant to the discussion of the differential diagnosis of leprosy. \nMacroscopic observation of the bones and scrutiny of lesions according to the paleopathological \nliterature allowed the identification of a probable case of leprosy in an adult male, showing rhinomaxillary \nchanges and concentric remodeling of hand and foot bones, and four possible cases (two young \nadults and two adults, all probably males), with a set of lesions in facial bones and skeletal extremities. \nThe poor preservation of the bones precluded further confirmation of this diagnosis. According to historical \ndata, the leprosaria functioned between the 14th and 16th centuries AD. The exact chronology \nof these findings was not determined either during the excavation or by radiocarbon dating because \nthe bones presented poor collagen levels. In Portugal as a whole there are few osteological evidences \nof leprosy, and thus this study adds new information about this chronic infectious disease

Archaeology · Geography · Leprosy · Osteology · Paleopathology · Pathology · Dermatological diseases and infestations · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Leprosy Research and Treatment · Medicine