Abstract

Photogrammetry and cascading microscopy investigations of dental pulp specimens collected from 2,000-year-old individuals buried in a Roman necropolis in Besançon, France, revealed unprecedented preserved tissular and cellular morphology. Photogrammetry yielded 3-D images of the smallest archaeological human remains ever recovered. Optical microscopy examinations after standard haematoxylin-phloxine-saffron staining and anti-glycophorin A immunohistochemistry exposed dental pulp cells, in addition erythrocytes were visualised by electron microscopy, which indicated the ancient dental pulp trapped a blood drop. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation applied on red blood cells revealed the louse-borne pathogen Bartonella quintana, a finding confirmed by polymerase chain reaction assays. Through paleohistology and paleocytology, we demonstrate that the ancient dental pulp preserved intact blood cells at the time of the individual’s death, offering an unprecedented opportunity to engage in direct and indirect tests to diagnose pathogens in ancient buried individuals.

Details

Title
A 2,000–year-old specimen with intraerythrocytic Bartonella quintana
Author
Barbieri, R 1 ; B-H-A, Mai 2 ; Chenal, T 3 ; M-L, Bassi 3 ; Gandia, D 4 ; Camoin-Jau, L 5 ; Lepidi, H 6 ; Aboudharam, G 7 ; Drancourt, M 8 

 IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.483853.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0519 5986); Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.483853.1); Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.5399.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 2176 4817) 
 Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.5399.6); Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue, Vietnam (GRID:grid.440798.6) 
 Ville de Besançon DPH, CNRS, UMR 6298 ArTeHiS, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.4444.0) (ISNI:0000 0001 2112 9282) 
 Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.5399.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 2176 4817) 
 Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.5399.6); Laboratoire d’Hématologie, Hôpital de la Timone, APHM, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.411266.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 0404 1115) 
 Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.411266.6); Service d’Anatomopathologie, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.414336.7) (ISNI:0000 0001 0407 1584) 
 Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.414336.7); Aix-Marseille-Université, UFR Odontology, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.5399.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 2176 4817) 
 IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.483853.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0519 5986); Aix-Marseille-Université, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France (GRID:grid.483853.1) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2415569502
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.