Winchester, England – Research suggests that leprosy may have been passed between humans and red squirrels in medieval England, indicating a possible connection to the fur trade. Leprosy, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, was common in medieval England and led to sickness and disfigurement among both rich and poor individuals. Previous studies have shown that people in medieval England, Denmark, and Sweden had a similar strain of leprosy to that found in red squirrels today in southern England. This has led to the theory that the trading of squirrel furs, imported from Viking Scandinavia, may have contributed to the spread of the disease.
Recent genetic analysis has provided further evidence to support this theory, revealing that red squirrels in medieval England carried a strain of leprosy very similar to that found in humans living at the time. The study, published in the journal Current Biology, analyzed samples from both humans and squirrels in Winchester dating back between 600 and 1,000 years ago. The city was chosen for its significance in the medieval period and its presence of a leper hospital and skinners involved in fur trading.
Dr. Sarah Inskip, a researcher from the University of Leicester and co-author of the study, expressed excitement over the discovery of leprosy in an animal host in the archaeological record. The findings suggest a potential transmission of the disease between humans and squirrels, although it remains unclear whether humans initially contracted leprosy from squirrels or vice versa. Inskip highlighted the possibility of transmission through mechanisms such as the fur trade and the keeping of squirrels as pets.
The study’s implications extend to modern leprosy cases, prompting the consideration of animals in communities affected by the disease. Inskip emphasized the need to explore the presence of leprosy in animals surrounding these communities, suggesting that animals could play a role in the disease’s persistence. The research sheds light on the historical spread of leprosy and opens avenues for further investigation into the transmission and prevention of the disease.