Osteological and molecular identification of brucellosis in ancient Butrint, Albania

A groundbreaking study confirms the presence of brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella bacteria, in human remains from ancient Butrint, Albania. Researchers identified severe vertebral lesions in two adolescent males dating to the 10th–13th centuries AD and ruled out tuberculosis through genetic screening. Positive amplification of Brucella DNA markers—IS6501 insertion element and Bcsp31 gene—in affected bones provided definitive evidence. This discovery suggests brucellosis was endemic in the region during the Middle Ages, offering new insights into past disease dynamics and human-animal interactions at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mutolo, M. J., Jenny, L. L., Buszek, A. R., Fenton, T. W., & Foran, D. R. (2011). Osteological and molecular identification of brucellosis in ancient Butrint, Albania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 147(2), 254–263. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21643