Bartonella quintana in a 4000-year-old human tooth.

Drancourt, Michel; Tran-Hung, Lam; Courtin, Jean; Lumley, Henry de; Raoult, Didier · J Infect Dis · 2005

other · Level V

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Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are transmitted by ectoparasites (lice, fleas, ticks) and have mammalian reservoirs in which they cause chronic, asymptomatic bacteremia. Humans are the reservoir of B. quintana, the louse-borne agent of trench fever. We detected DNA of B. quintana in the dental pulp of a person who died 4000 years ago.

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