In medieval times, humans could have caught leprosy from red squirrels, and vice versa. Scientists analyzed human bones and squirrel bones from archaeological sites in Winchester, southern England, and found that both contained the same traces of the bacteria that causes leprosy. This invalidates the narrative that it is a purely human disease, but it is not yet known whether it passed from humans to squirrels or vice versa.
There was no shortage of opportunities to contaminate each other, as squirrel fur was often used to make warm clothing. Additionally, many had them as pets; they were especially appreciated by women.
The research focused on Winchester, which was once an important medieval town. Scientists analyzed DNA samples taken from the bones of three people who lived in Winchester 900 to 600 years ago, as well as the bones of a squirrel dating from 1,000 to 900 years ago, also found in the city. In all samples, very similar strains of the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy, were present.
Today, squirrels no longer represent any risk
Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases in human history. Its symptoms affect the skin, mucous membranes, eyes, peripheral nervous system and respiratory tract. It can be easily cured with antibiotics; however, significant symptoms only appear several years after contamination, so early detection is not necessarily easy.
Some contemporary red squirrels still carry the disease, but according to the BBC, there have not yet been any cases of transmission between this species and ours in our time…
Read more on Slate.fr
