Two Probable Cases of Infection with Treponema pallidum during the Neolithic Period in Northern Vietnam (~2000-1500B.C.)

Melandri Vlok; Marc Fredrick Oxenham; Kate Domett; Tran Thi Minh; Nguyen Thi Mai Huong; Hirofumi Matsumura; Hiep Hoang Trinh; Thomas Higham; Charles Higham; Nghia Truong  Huu; Hallie Buckley

doi:10.5744/bi.2020.1000

Two Probable Cases of Infection with Treponema pallidum during the Neolithic Period in Northern Vietnam (~2000-1500B.C.)

Melandri Vlok^* (Corresponding Author), Marc Fredrick Oxenham, Kate Domett, Tran Thi Minh, Nguyen Thi Mai Huong, Hirofumi Matsumura, Hiep Hoang Trinh, Thomas Higham, Charles Higham, Nghia Truong Huu, Hallie Buckley

^*Corresponding author for this work

Archaeology

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Abstract

Skeletal evidence of two probable cases of treponematosis, caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, from the northern Vietnamese early Neolithic site of Man Bac (1906–1523 cal B.C.) is described. The presence of nodes of subperiosteal new bone directly associated with superficial focal cavitations in a young adult male and a seven-year- old child are strongly diagnostic for treponemal disease. Climatic and epidemiological contexts suggest yaws (Treponema pallidum pertenue) as the most likely causative treponeme. This evidence is the oldest discovered in the Asia-Pacific region and is the first well-established pre-Columbian example in this region in terms of diagnosis and secure dating. The coastal ecology, sedentary settlement, and high fertility at the site of Man Bac all provided a biosocial context conducive to the spread of treponemal disease among inhabitants of the site. Co-morbidity with scurvy in both individuals demonstrates that malnutrition during the agricultural transition may have exacerbated the expression of treponematosis in this community.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	15-36
Number of pages	22
Journal	Bioarchaeology International
Volume	4
Issue number	1
Early online date	25 May 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5744/bi.2020.1000
Publication status	Published - 30 Oct 2020

Bibliographical note

We would like to thank Dr. Ngo Anh Son, Mr. Bui Van Khanh, and Ms. Nellissa Ling for their assistance with the radiographs, and Dr. Anne Marie E. Snoddy for in-put on the application of a standardized approach to treponemal disease. We thank the associate editor of Bioarchaeology International and three anonymous reviewers for their comments and advice in revising the manuscript.

Funding: This research was supported by a National Geographic Early Career Grant (EC-54332R-18), Royal Society of New Zealand Skinner Fund Grant and a University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship.

Keywords

agricultural transition
yaws
Southeast Asia

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title = "Two Probable Cases of Infection with Treponema pallidum during the Neolithic Period in Northern Vietnam (~2000-1500B.C.)",

abstract = "Skeletal evidence of two probable cases of treponematosis, caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, from the northern Vietnamese early Neolithic site of Man Bac (1906–1523 cal B.C.) is described. The presence of nodes of subperiosteal new bone directly associated with superficial focal cavitations in a young adult male and a seven-year- old child are strongly diagnostic for treponemal disease. Climatic and epidemiological contexts suggest yaws (Treponema pallidum pertenue) as the most likely causative treponeme. This evidence is the oldest discovered in the Asia-Pacific region and is the first well-established pre-Columbian example in this region in terms of diagnosis and secure dating. The coastal ecology, sedentary settlement, and high fertility at the site of Man Bac all provided a biosocial context conducive to the spread of treponemal disease among inhabitants of the site. Co-morbidity with scurvy in both individuals demonstrates that malnutrition during the agricultural transition may have exacerbated the expression of treponematosis in this community.",

keywords = "agricultural transition, yaws, Southeast Asia",

author = "Melandri Vlok and Oxenham, {Marc Fredrick} and Kate Domett and Minh, {Tran Thi} and {Mai Huong}, {Nguyen Thi} and Hirofumi Matsumura and Trinh, {Hiep Hoang} and Thomas Higham and Charles Higham and Huu, {Nghia Truong} and Hallie Buckley",

note = "We would like to thank Dr. Ngo Anh Son, Mr. Bui Van Khanh, and Ms. Nellissa Ling for their assistance with the radiographs, and Dr. Anne Marie E. Snoddy for in-put on the application of a standardized approach to treponemal disease. We thank the associate editor of Bioarchaeology International and three anonymous reviewers for their comments and advice in revising the manuscript. Funding: This research was supported by a National Geographic Early Career Grant (EC-54332R-18), Royal Society of New Zealand Skinner Fund Grant and a University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship. ",

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AU - Vlok, Melandri

AU - Oxenham, Marc Fredrick

AU - Domett, Kate

AU - Minh, Tran Thi

AU - Mai Huong, Nguyen Thi

AU - Matsumura, Hirofumi

AU - Trinh, Hiep Hoang

AU - Higham, Thomas

AU - Higham, Charles

AU - Huu, Nghia Truong

AU - Buckley, Hallie

N1 - We would like to thank Dr. Ngo Anh Son, Mr. Bui Van Khanh, and Ms. Nellissa Ling for their assistance with the radiographs, and Dr. Anne Marie E. Snoddy for in-put on the application of a standardized approach to treponemal disease. We thank the associate editor of Bioarchaeology International and three anonymous reviewers for their comments and advice in revising the manuscript. Funding: This research was supported by a National Geographic Early Career Grant (EC-54332R-18), Royal Society of New Zealand Skinner Fund Grant and a University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship.

PY - 2020/10/30

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N2 - Skeletal evidence of two probable cases of treponematosis, caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, from the northern Vietnamese early Neolithic site of Man Bac (1906–1523 cal B.C.) is described. The presence of nodes of subperiosteal new bone directly associated with superficial focal cavitations in a young adult male and a seven-year- old child are strongly diagnostic for treponemal disease. Climatic and epidemiological contexts suggest yaws (Treponema pallidum pertenue) as the most likely causative treponeme. This evidence is the oldest discovered in the Asia-Pacific region and is the first well-established pre-Columbian example in this region in terms of diagnosis and secure dating. The coastal ecology, sedentary settlement, and high fertility at the site of Man Bac all provided a biosocial context conducive to the spread of treponemal disease among inhabitants of the site. Co-morbidity with scurvy in both individuals demonstrates that malnutrition during the agricultural transition may have exacerbated the expression of treponematosis in this community.

AB - Skeletal evidence of two probable cases of treponematosis, caused by infection with the bacterium Treponema pallidum, from the northern Vietnamese early Neolithic site of Man Bac (1906–1523 cal B.C.) is described. The presence of nodes of subperiosteal new bone directly associated with superficial focal cavitations in a young adult male and a seven-year- old child are strongly diagnostic for treponemal disease. Climatic and epidemiological contexts suggest yaws (Treponema pallidum pertenue) as the most likely causative treponeme. This evidence is the oldest discovered in the Asia-Pacific region and is the first well-established pre-Columbian example in this region in terms of diagnosis and secure dating. The coastal ecology, sedentary settlement, and high fertility at the site of Man Bac all provided a biosocial context conducive to the spread of treponemal disease among inhabitants of the site. Co-morbidity with scurvy in both individuals demonstrates that malnutrition during the agricultural transition may have exacerbated the expression of treponematosis in this community.

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KW - yaws

KW - Southeast Asia

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DO - 10.5744/bi.2020.1000

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SN - 2472-8357

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IS - 1

ER -

Two Probable Cases of Infection with Treponema pallidum during the Neolithic Period in Northern Vietnam (~2000-1500B.C.)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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