Leprosy Bacteria Preexisted Europeans in Americas, Study Shows

For a long time, history has taken for granted that diseases as devastating as leprosy arrived in America on board the ships of European colonizers. A narrative that has been, so far, a fundamental pillar to understand the 'demographic impact' suffered by the indigenous populations after the encounter of the two worlds. An idea that, however, is about to change thanks to a new study recently published in 'Science'.

Genetic analysis shows leprosy was endemic in pre-colonial America

Long considered a disease brought to the Americas by European colonizers, leprosy may actually have a much older history on the American continent.

A team of Argentine researchers participated in the work. In dialogue with Infobae, they told how they analyzed ancient DNA and detected that a bacterium infected people prior to the conquest.

Leprosy existed in America long before arrival of Europeans

Long considered a disease brought to the Americas by European colonizers, leprosy may actually have a much older history on the American continent. Scientists reveal that a recently identified second species of bacteria responsible for leprosy, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, has been infecting humans in the Americas for at least 1,000 years, several centuries before the Europeans arrived.

Uncovered: A long-lasting history of leprosy in the Americas

A new study challenges the view that leprosy is a disease that was introduced into the Americas during European colonization. It reports that a strain of leprosy-causing mycobacterium, Mycobacterium lepromatosis, that was only discovered in recent years infected humans in the Americas longer ago – before European contact. The findings reshape current views of leprosy in the Americas and provide insights into the long-term interactions…

The leprosy already existed on the American continent before the arrival of European colonizers. This is demonstrated by a new research published this Thursday in Science that...