Mycobacterium tuberculosisComplex in Remains of 18th–19th Century Slaves, Brazil

Lauren H Jaeger,Ondemar F Dias,Alena M Iñiguez,Sheila M.F.M De Souza

doi:10.3201/eid1905.120193

Abstract

<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>Complex in Remains of 18th–19th Century Slaves, Brazil

Highlights

Our findings are consistent with those from studies based on current African populations, which show that haplotype L1c is restricted to central Africa [5] and L3d and L3e are most frequently found in western and central Africa, respectively [6]
The endemicity of TB in Rio de Janeiro during the colonial period was confirmed by Jaeger and colleagues, who demonstrated Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) infection in 56.6% of persons with European ancestry buried at Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church [4]
The finding of MTC aDNA in the remains of 25% of persons buried at Pretos Novos (New Blacks) Cemetery (PNC) could be an underestimation of infection

Summary

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in Remains of

To the Editor: Nineteenth century Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was marked by increased illness and deaths from tuberculosis (TB). Our findings are consistent with those from studies based on current African populations, which show that haplotype L1c is restricted to central Africa [5] and L3d and L3e are most frequently found in western and central Africa, respectively [6] Blacks, meaning they were born in Africa and died just after arriving in America. Our mtDNA results confirm historic and genetic records that indicate a large percentage of persons brought to Brazil as slaves originated from western–central and western Africa. This makes the PNC samples unique for the paleogenetic purpose of this investigation. Results of genetic analyses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex hybridization and human mtDNA haplotypes from human bone samples collected from Pretos Novos Cemetery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil*

TB hybridization

Findings

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