ABSTRACT
The Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) has affected South American populations since ca. 200 years BCE. In Argentina, possible cases date from ca. 1000-1400 Common Era (CE). This paper describes the oldest (905-1030 CE) confirmed case of tuberculosis (TB) in a young adult male from Lomitas de Saujil (Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina). Osteolytic lesions on the bodies of the lower spine were macroscopically and radiographically identified. Bilateral new bone formation was seen on the visceral vertebral third of several ribs and in long bones, compatible with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Representative rib and hand bones gave profiles for MTC-specific C27-C32 mycocerosic acid lipid biomarkers; these were strongest in one heavily-lesioned lower rib, which also had MTC-diagnostic C76-C89 mycolic acids and positive amplification of MTC-typical IS6110 aDNA fragments. During the first millennium CE, the intense social interaction, the spatial circumscription of villages among the pre-Hispanic societies in the mesothermal valleys of Catamarca and the fluid contacts with the Eastern lowlands, valleys and puna, were factors likely to favor disease transmission. It is proposed that TB arrived from northern Chile and dispersed towards the northeast into the Yocavil valley, where several cases of TB infection were macroscopically identified for a later chronology.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging , DNA, Bacterial/history , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics , Paleopathology/methods , Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular/history , Adult , Argentina/epidemiology , Bone and Bones/microbiology , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , History, 15th Century , History, 16th Century , History, Ancient , History, Medieval , Humans , Incidence , Male , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular/epidemiologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Introduction: sex estimation is one of the most important aspects of bioanthropological analysis. Teeth are a key tool to obtain this information, especially in cases where the action of taphonomic agents or funeral characteristics are unfavorable for preservation. The aim of this study was to examine the degree of sexual dimorphism in permanent canines of a contemporary mestizo population from the city of Manizales, Colombia. Method: descriptive study, measuring the mesiodistal (MD) and bucolingual (BL) diameters of permanent canines in 109 mestizo individuals (63 male and 46 female) aged 15 to 18, born in the city of Manizales, Colombia. The used statistical methods helped obtain the cut-off points, the percentages of cases correctly allocated, the likelihood estimation for new individuals and the sexual dimorphism values. Results: the cut-off points were 7.88 mm and 7.33 mm for MD and BL of the upper canine, respectively, and 6.81 mm and 6.76 mm for the same variables in lower canines. Correct allocations range from 71.42% to 78.26%, except for bucolingual diameter in the upper canine, which yielded low values. The correct likelihood estimation of external individuals ranges from 0.71 to 0.83. Finally, sexual dimorphism is relatively low (between 2.79% and 6.80%), although it falls within the expected range. The most dimorphic tooth is the lower canine, in line with reports in other populations around the world. Conclusions: the size of permanent canines is a good predictor of sex in the studied population and can be used when other osteological indicators are not available, or as a complement to them.
RESUMEN Introducción: la estimación del sexo es uno de los aspectos más importantes de los análisis bioantropológicos. Los dientes son una herramienta fundamental para obtener esa información, sobre todo en casos donde la acción de agentes tafonómicos o las características del tratamiento funerario son poco favorables a la preservación. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en examinar el grado de dimorfismo sexual en caninos permanentes de una población mestiza contemporánea procedente de la ciudad de Manizales, Colombia. Método: estudio descriptivo, en el cual se midieron los diámetros mesiodistales (MD) y bucolinguales (BL) de caninos permanentes de 109 individuos mestizos (63 masculinos y 46 femeninos) con edades entre 15 y 18 años, nacidos en la ciudad de Manizales, Colombia. Los métodos estadísticos aplicados permitieron obtener los puntos de corte, los porcentajes de casos correctamente asignados, las probabilidades de estimación para nuevos individuos y los valores del dimorfismo sexual. Resultados: los puntos de corte son 7,88 mm y 7,33 mm para MD y BL del canino superior, respectivamente, y 6,81 mm y 6,76 mm para las variables del canino inferior. Las asignaciones correctas varían entre el 71,42% y el 78,26%, con excepción del diámetro bucolingual del canino superior, que arrojó valores bajos. Las probabilidades de estimación correcta de individuos externos oscilan entre 0,71 y 0,83. Por último, el dimorfismo sexual es relativamente bajo (entre 2,79% y 6,80%), aunque se ubica dentro del rango esperado. El diente más dimórfico es el canino inferior, en concordancia con lo identificado para otras poblaciones del mundo. Conclusiones: el tamaño de los caninos permanentes es un buen predictor del sexo en la población estudiada y puede ser empleado cuando no se cuenta con otros indicadores osteológicos, o como complemento de ellos.
