Bartonella quintana in a 4000-year-old human tooth

J Infect Dis. 2005 Feb 15;191(4):607-11. doi: 10.1086/427041. Epub 2005 Jan 10.

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are transmitted by ectoparasites (lice, fleas, ticks) and have mammalian reservoirs in which they cause chronic, asymptomatic bacteremia. Humans are the reservoir of B. quintana, the louse-borne agent of trench fever. We detected DNA of B. quintana in the dental pulp of a person who died 4000 years ago.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Bartonella quintana / genetics
  • Bartonella quintana / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Dental Pulp / microbiology*
  • France
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Molar / microbiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Paleodontology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY380779