Schistosomiasis found in early modern Belgium latrines

[guy]

There was a previous post about the high prevalence of Schistosomiasis in ancient Egypt (see below). I was surprised to learn that evidence of Schistosomiasis, which is usually found in sub-Saharan Africa, was found as far North as the latrines of 15-16th century AD Bruges, Belgium. This article attributes the infection to migration and travel from those areas where the infection is more common.

 

Quote

Overall the paleoparasitological analysis of this 15th–16th c. CE latrine from the Spanish nation house in Bruges, Belgium provides unique evidence for the transport of S. mansoni over long distances in the past. This coincides with the start of the Atlantic slave trade, and may thus represent infection of a merchant with trade connections to Africa or infection of a slave or free African individual living in Bruges. Those living in and using the latrine in the Spanish nation house were also infected with common parasites transmitted locally including Ascaris (roundworm), Trichuris (whipworm) and Taenia (beef/pork) tapeworm. This study provides important evidence for the epidemiological history of schistosomiasis and important smaller scale movements of S. mansoni with human migration and travel in the past.

 

 

Edited December 6 by guy