Molecular evidence of tuberculosis induced hypertophic osteopathy in a 16th-century Iroquoian dog
Here we report on the oldest known case of TB to be discovered in domestic dogs and highlight their role as potential reservoirs of TB in the Americas.
Jan 01, 2004
Authors: R.R. Bathurst and J.L. Barta
Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 31, Issue 7, July 2004, pp. 917-925. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2003.12.006
A fully articulated dog skeleton excavated from a 16th-century Neutral Iroquoian site in Ontario, Canada displays a distinctive osteological condition known as hypertrophic osteopathy (HPO). Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the dog has isolated Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA, linking the secondary condition of HPO to tuberculosis (TB) and representing the oldest known case of TB yet to be discovered in the domestic dog. We emphasize that dogs should be considered as potential reservoirs of TB into the Americas.