When Scientists Examined Aztec Teeth, They Unlocked The Secret To A Mysterious Epidemic

[Judi Lynn]

By Staff Writer

In laboratories thousands of miles apart, scientists are poring over centuries-old DNA. Using the latest technology, they are searching for answers to a mystery that has haunted historians for hundreds of years. In the 16th century a deadly epidemic swept through Guatemala and Mexico – killing millions of Aztecs in the last days of their empire. And now, researchers are edging closer to finding out exactly what caused it.

Since its discovery in the 1860s, DNA has proved an invaluable tool to scientists across countless disciplines. However, its usefulness has been limited for those who work with human remains. In fact, up until recently, it has been almost impossible for researchers to extract DNA from skeletons.




Image: f9photos/Getty Images

But now, thanks to advanced methods of detection, researchers are now able to track traces of DNA in humans who have been dead for hundreds of years. And in the case of the Aztec Empire, this breakthrough may help to solve the mystery at last. By studying the teeth of people who lived in Mexico during the 16th century, scientists believe that they may have identified the culprit behind the deadly epidemic.




Image: fergregory/Getty Images

We’ll examine just what the scientists discovered about the fall of the Aztecs a little later, but let’s first learn a bit more about the people themselves. From its origins in the Valley of Mexico, the Aztec Empire grew to encompass much of what is now central Mexico. Stretching as far as modern-day Guatemala, the civilization was home to some six million people at its peak. And a population of over 140,000 thrived in its capital Tenochtitlán alone.

More:
https://magellantimes.com/anthropology-and-history/cultures/aztecs-samonella-enterica-cocoliztli-disease-central-america-spanish-conquistadors/6/?utm_campaign=Aztec_Teeth_Examned_MT_DKTB_US01&utm_source=nativo&utm_content=6643

[hlthe2b]

1. 'Pleased they are using dental DNA to research this, but I do NOT believe Salmonella enterica is

culprit.

I'm with these dissenters:

But not everyone is convinced that the culprit behind cocoliztli has finally been found. Epidemiologist Rodolfo Acuña-Soto from Mexico’s National Autonomous University has long suspected that a viral fever caused the epidemic – and his opinions have not changed. And even the authors of the study have themselves acknowledged that Salmonella enterica might not have been solely to blame.

[Warpy]

2. That's my take, also. Finding it in 42% of the cases identifies it as a comorbidity

but salmonella is a well known bug worldwide, many people are colonized with it early in life. It lurks harmlessly in the tonsils until other illness or extreme stress allow it to activate and spread. It's also prevalent in wild game birds, here and in the old world, its major natural reservoir. It wasn't a novel bug, in other words.

My own money is on viral hepatitis, something that would be really hard to trace without frozen tissue samples, unlikely in the tropics. Infection with that spreads like wildfire among people who don't wash their hands and eat a tropical diet of many raw foods. A hepatits infection would certainly trigger a secondary salmonella infection in people who were colonized with the bug.