Ancient Skeletons Challenge What We Thought About Syphilis

Topic: Health

Scientists studied ancient skeletons in Vietnam and found evidence of a disease that can be passed from mother to child. This challenges what we thought about how syphilis spreads.

A team of scientists led by Dr. Melandri Vlok, a lecturer at Charles Sturt University, studied the remains of children who lived in prehistoric Vietnam. They found evidence of a disease called treponemal disease that can be passed from mother to child.

The study looked at 309 individuals from 16 archaeological sites across Vietnam, covering a period from 10,000 to 1,000 years before the present time. Only three young children showed diagnostic signs of congenital treponematosis.

Treponemal disease includes syphilis, yaws, and endemic syphilis. However, the overall pattern of infection found in the population points away from venereal syphilis. Instead, the evidence suggests that the children were likely affected by a nonvenereal treponemal disease such as yaws.

Yaws is a tropical disease that affects more than 150,000 people around the world and can cause permanent disability.

Why It Matters

This discovery matters because it challenges what we thought about how syphilis spreads. It also means that scientists may need to rethink their understanding of ancient diseases and how they were spread.

Key Facts

• Scientists studied the remains of children who lived in prehistoric Vietnam and found evidence of treponemal disease.
• The study looked at 309 individuals from 16 archaeological sites across Vietnam, covering a period from 10,000 to 1,000 years before the present time.
• Only three young children showed diagnostic signs of congenital treponematosis.
• Treponemal disease includes syphilis, yaws, and endemic syphilis.
• The study suggests that the children were likely affected by a nonvenereal treponemal disease such as yaws.

Key Terms

Congenital

Passed from mother to child at birth or before birth

Treponematosis

A group of diseases that includes syphilis, yaws, and endemic syphilis

Venereal

Related to sexual activity

Implications

This discovery matters because it challenges what we thought about how syphilis spreads. It also means that scientists may need to rethink their understanding of ancient diseases and how they were spread.