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Leprosy in a skeleton from the 7th century necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro (Molise, Italy)
Author(s) -
Belcastro M. G.,
Mariotti V.,
Facchini F.,
Dutour O.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.799
Subject(s) - pathognomonic , leprosy , skeleton (computer programming) , facial skeleton , medicine , lepromatous leprosy , human skeleton , axial skeleton , anatomy , dermatology , pathology , disease
Abstract Analysis of the skeleton from tomb 144 of the early medieval necropolis of Vicenne‐Campochiaro in Central Italy revealed several features indicative of leprosy. The skeleton belongs to a male estimated to be between 20 and 25 years of age at death. The distal halves of the 1st and 2nd left metatarsals present acro‐osteolysis and both legs show severe subperiosteal bone reaction. The facial skeleton shows changes compatible with a chronic inflammatory process, possibly due to an infectious disease. The anatomical distribution of the lesions and their association with other skeletal lesions seems to be compatible with a near‐lepromatous form of leprosy. A differential diagnosis is made, and the skeletal traits pathognomonic of leprosy are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.