Objective

This paper reports a new case of treponemal disease in a pre-Columbian hunter-gatherer inhabiting the desert coast of South America.

Materials

A well-preserved adult male skeleton from the “Vertedero Municipal” archaeological cemetery, located near the city of Antofagasta (Northern Chile).

Methods

The skeleton was radiocarbon dated, and isotopic analyses were performed to assess diet and mobility. Lytic and proliferative lesions identified were evaluated macroscopically and radiologically.

Results

A radiocarbon date of 1830 ± 20 BP and isotopic values indicating a marine diet and coastal residence were obtained. The cranium shows reactive changes as focal superficial cavitation, radial scarring and nodular cavitation, while the ribs, sternum, clavicles, and scapulae exhibit multiple lytic and proliferative lesions. The right femur has a node while both tibiae show mild anterior cortical thickening with a narrowed medullary cavity.

Conclusions

Cranial lesions are pathognomonic for treponemal disease while postcranial changes are typical, and highly consistent with this pathology.

Significance

The type, morphology, and pattern of lesions make this case a good candidate for venereal syphilis. The case is relevant to the origin of venereal syphilis due to the lifestyle, temporal and ecological context of the individual.

Limitations

Diagnosis of venereal syphilis is based on skeletal lesions; thus, it must be confirmed by molecular analysis.

Suggestions for Further Research

A comprehensive review of cases of pre-Columbian treponemal disease in South America as well as molecular studies are needed to confirm the presence of venereal syphilis in the New World before European contact.

中文翻译：

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来自安托法加斯塔（1830 ± 20 BP，智利北部海岸）的前哥伦布时期狩猎采集男性的密螺旋体病。

客观的

本文报告了居住在南美洲沙漠海岸的前哥伦布时期狩猎采集者的一例新的密螺旋体病病例。

材料

位于安托法加斯塔市（智利北部）附近的“Vertedero Municipal”考古公墓中保存完好的成年男性骨骼。

方法

骨架进行了放射性碳测年，并进行了同位素分析以评估饮食和流动性。确定的溶解性和增殖性病变在肉眼和放射学上进行评估。

结果

获得了 1830 ± 20 BP 的放射性碳日期和表明海洋饮食和沿海居住地的同位素值。颅骨表现为局灶性浅表空化、放射状瘢痕和结节性空化等反应性变化，而肋骨、胸骨、锁骨和肩胛骨则表现出多处溶解性和增殖性病变。右股骨有一个结节，而两个胫骨均显示轻度前皮质增厚，髓腔变窄。

结论

颅骨病变是密螺旋体疾病的特征性病变，而颅后病变是典型的，与这种病理高度一致。

意义

病变的类型、形态和模式使该病例成为性病梅毒的良好候选者。由于个人的生活方式、时间和生态环境，该病例与性病梅毒的起源有关。

限制

性病梅毒的诊断基于骨骼病变；因此，必须通过分子分析加以证实。

进一步研究的建议

需要对南美洲前哥伦布时期的密螺旋体病病例进行全面审查以及分子研究，以确认在欧洲接触之前新世界中存在性病梅毒。