High Throughput, Multiplexed Pathogen Detection Authenticates Plague Waves in Medieval Venice, Italy

A groundbreaking analysis of dental pulp samples from medieval Venice reveals successive plague waves in the city, where quarantine was first instituted. Using high-throughput, multiplexed real-time PCR, researchers detected DNA from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague, in three samples—two dating to the 14th century and one from the 16th century. Genetic sequencing confirmed these strains belonged to the Orientalis biotype, a highly transmissible form. Additionally, Bartonella quintana, linked to trench fever, was identified in five samples, including those from the 15th and 16th centuries. This study provides the first molecular evidence of repeated plague epidemics in Venice, offering new insights into the historical impact of these diseases on a pivotal European city.

Tran, T.-N.-N., Signoli, M., Fozzati, L., Aboudharam, G., Raoult, D., & Drancourt, M. (2011). High Throughput, Multiplexed Pathogen Detection Authenticates Plague Waves in Medieval Venice, Italy. PLoS ONE, 6(3), e16735. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016735