Charles Sturt University study of 3,500-year-old Vietnamese skeletons challenges syphilis diagnosis assumption
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
A Charles Sturt University-led study of ancient Vietnamese remains identifies congenital treponemal disease in three children dating to at least 3,500 years ago, challenging the assumption that congenital infection indicates venereal syphilis. The findings, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, show nonvenereal treponemal diseases such as yaws also transmit from mother to child.
Key Facts
- The study analyzed 309 individuals from 16 archaeological sites across Vietnam, covering a period from 10,000 to 1,000 years before present.
- Three young children showed diagnostic signs of congenital treponematosis, including distinctive dental abnormalities and skeletal lesions dated to at least 3,500 years ago.
- Two of the children were recovered from Man Bac in northern Vietnam, where previous studies had already found unusually high rates of treponemal disease.
- Most infections at Man Bac occurred among children and adolescents, a pattern consistent with nonvenereal treponemal diseases spread through skin contact.
Ancient Remains
The study, led by Dr. Melandri Vlok of Charles Sturt University, analyzed skeletal remains from 16 archaeological sites in northern and southern Vietnam dating to approximately 4,000 to 3,200 years ago. Researchers identified three children whose teeth and bones showed clear evidence of congenital treponematosis, a group of diseases that includes syphilis, yaws and endemic syphilis. The remains contained distinctive dental abnormalities and skeletal lesions associated with treponemal infection dating back at least 3,500 years. Two of the children were recovered from Man Bac, an archaeological site in northern Vietnam where previous studies had already found unusually high rates of treponemal disease.
Infection Patterns
The age distribution of infections at Man Bac is especially important, with most cases occurring among children and adolescents. This pattern is more consistent with nonvenereal treponemal diseases that spread through skin contact rather than sexual activity. The overall pattern of infection found in the population is not consistent with venereal syphilis. The children's infection pattern is consistent with a nonvenereal treponemal disease such as yaws. Yaws is a tropical disease that affects more than 150,000 people around the tropical world and can cause permanent disability.
Diagnostic Assumptions
For decades, congenital infection in archaeological remains has often been taken as strong evidence of venereal syphilis. Dr. Melandri Vlok said the new research shows that assumption does not always hold true. The study found that other treponemal diseases were also transmitted from mother to child. The study was published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
1 source
Charles Sturt University study of 3,500-year-old Vietnamese skeletons challenges syphilis diagnosis assumption
