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Charlier P, Augias A, Weil R, Bouchet F, Poupon J, Popescu MS, Decloquement P, Azza S, Angelakis E, Richardin P, Colson P, Dubourg G, Million M, Raoult D. Scurvy complicated with Capnocytophaga sputigena sepsis as a possible cause of death of king Saint-Louis of France (1270 AD). Microb Pathog 2023; 185:106399. [PMID: 37884212 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The cause of death of Saint-Louis is not known, but recent findings indicated that he presented scurvy and inflammatory jaw disease, which has been associated with infection by oral commensals. Here, we have the exceptional opportunity to analyze the relics of the viscera of King Saint-Louis. A 4.3 g sample from the viscera relics of King Saint-Louis conserved in Versailles' cathedral was subjected to radiocarbon dating, electronic and optic microscopy, and elementary, palynological, molecular, proteomics and microbiological analyses including specific PCR and v3v4 16 S rRNA gene amplification prior to large-scale sequencing using an Illumina MiSeq instrument. The measured radiocarbon age was Cal 1290 CE-1400, which was compatible with that of the viscera of St Louis viscera, considering the addition of lime, incense and vegetables within the human organs. Elemental and palynological analyses confirmed a medieval embalming process. Proteomics analysis identified mainly human muscle and blood proteins. Specific PCR for plague, amoebiasis, shigellosis and typhoid fever was negative. C. sputigena was identified as the main pathogenic species representing 10.8 % of all microbial sequences. In contrast, C. sputigena was found in only 0.001 % of samples sequenced in our center, and the 23 positive human samples showed a dramatically lower abundance (0.02-2.6 %). In the literature, human infections with C. sputigena included odontitis, dental abscess, sinusitis, thoracic infections and bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised patients with oral and dental diseases consistent with recent analysis of King Saint-Louis' jaw. C. sputigena, a commensal of the mouth that is potentially pathogenic and responsible for fatal bacteremia, may have been the cause of the king's death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Charlier
- Laboratory Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology (LAAB), UFR of Health Sciences (UVSQ), Paris-Saclay University, 2 Avenue de La Source de La Bièvre, 78180, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France; Museum of Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, 222 Rue de L'Université, 75007, Paris, France; Fondation Anthropologie, Archéologie, Biologie (FAAB) - Institut de France, Palais de L'Institut, 23 Quai de Conti, 75006, Paris, France.
| | - Anaïs Augias
- Laboratory Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology (LAAB), UFR of Health Sciences (UVSQ), Paris-Saclay University, 2 Avenue de La Source de La Bièvre, 78180, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Raphaël Weil
- Laboratory Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology (LAAB), UFR of Health Sciences (UVSQ), Paris-Saclay University, 2 Avenue de La Source de La Bièvre, 78180, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France; Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, Cedex, 91405, France
| | - Françoise Bouchet
- Académie Nationale de Pharmacie, Avenue de L'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Joël Poupon
- Laboratory Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology (LAAB), UFR of Health Sciences (UVSQ), Paris-Saclay University, 2 Avenue de La Source de La Bièvre, 78180, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France; Laboratoire de Toxicologie Biologique, CHU Lariboisière (AP-HP), 2 Rue Ambroise Paré, 75010, Paris, France
| | | | - Philippe Decloquement
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Saïd Azza
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Emmanouil Angelakis
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Pascale Richardin
- Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France (C2RMF), Palais Du Louvre, Porte des Lions, 14 Quai François Mitterrand, 75001, Paris, France; UMR 7055, Préhistoire et Technologie (Pretech), Université Paris Nanterre / CNRS, 21 Allée de L'Université, 92023, Nanterre Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Colson
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Gregory Dubourg
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Million
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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Charlier P, Donnell S, Lippi D, Nerlich A, Asensi V, Perciaccante A, Appenzeller O, Bianucci R. Why paleomedicine is useful for medical education. Postgrad Med J 2020; 97:75-76. [PMID: 32404500 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
What is the place of medico-historical cases in the professional practice of the disciplinary field of medicine and biology? How can these patients from the past be used for teaching and continuing medical education? How to justify their place in biomedical publications? In this article, we explain all the legitimacy of paleomedicine, and the need to intensify such research in the form of a well-individualised branch of paleopathology and the history of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Charlier
- Department of Research and High Education, Musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac, Paris, France .,Laboratory Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology (LAAB), UFR of Health Sciences, Paris-Saclay University (UVSQ), Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Simon Donnell
- Norwich Medical School, University of West Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Donatella Lippi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Univesity of Florence, Florence, Toscane, Italy
| | - Andreas Nerlich
- Institute of Pathology, Academic Clinic Munich-Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany
| | - Victor Asensi
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Antonio Perciaccante
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Department of Medecine, "San Giovanni di Dio" Hospital, Gorizia, Italia
| | - Otto Appenzeller
- New Mexico Health Enhancement, Marathon Clinics Research Foundation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Raffaella Bianucci
- Legal Medicine Section, Department of Public Health and Paediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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