Mycobacteriosis in the Pliocene
Authors: Bruce M. Rothschild
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Letters15 July 1997Mycobacteriosis in the PlioceneBruce M. Rothschild, MD, Ralph E. Molnar, MD, and Jeno I. Sebes, MDBruce M. Rothschild, MDArthritis Center of Northeast Ohio; Youngstown, OH 44512Queensland Cultural Centre; South Brisbane. Queensland, Australia (Molnar)University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences; Memphis, TN 28117Search for more papers by this author, Ralph E. Molnar, MDArthritis Center of Northeast Ohio; Youngstown, OH 44512Queensland Cultural Centre; South Brisbane. Queensland, Australia (Molnar)University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences; Memphis, TN 28117Search for more papers by this author, and Jeno I. Sebes, MDArthritis Center of Northeast Ohio; Youngstown, OH 44512Queensland Cultural Centre; South Brisbane. Queensland, Australia (Molnar)University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences; Memphis, TN 28117Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-127-2-199707150-00032 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Recognition of disease in antiquity is predicated on the uniformity of the character of disease over time. Although bone can manifest only a limited spectrum of reaction to any “insult,” the pattern of skeletal involvement is often highly specific [1]. One such pattern-vertebral destruction with partial collapse, minimal reactive bone formation, but fusing affected adjacent vertebrae (producing a coalesced, acutely angulated vertebral appearance)-is highly specific for mycobacterial disease, such as tuberculosis [1, 2]. Observation of such a phenomena in a Pliocene macropod stimulated this analysis.Fused proximal caudal macropod (kangaroo) vertebrae (Queensland F178989), discovered on the Chinchilla ...References1. Rothschild BM, Martin L, eds. Paleopathology: Disease in the Fossil Record. London: CRC Pr; 1993. Google Scholar2. Resnick D, Niwayama G, eds. Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Disorders. 2d ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders: 1989. Google Scholar3. Kennedy S, Montali RJ, James AE, Bush M. Bone lesions in three tree kangaroos. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1978; 173:1094-8. Google Scholar4. Mann PC, Montali RJ, Bush M. Mycobacterial osteomyelitis in captive marsupials. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1982; 181:1331-3. Google Scholar5. Strouhal E. La Tubereulose Vertebrale en Egypte et Nubie Anciennes. Bulletins et Memoires Societe de la d'Anthropologie de Paris. 1987; 14:261-70. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Bruce M. Rothschild, MD; Ralph E. Molnar, MD; Jeno I. Sebes, MDAffiliations: Arthritis Center of Northeast Ohio; Youngstown, OH 44512Queensland Cultural Centre; South Brisbane. Queensland, Australia (Molnar)University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences; Memphis, TN 28117 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byDeep Origin of Parasitic Disease in VertebratesComparative Frequency of Osseous Macroscopic Pathology and First Report of Gout in Captive and Wild-caught Ratites 15 July 1997Volume 127, Issue 2Page: 168-169KeywordsBoneBrucellosisComputed axial tomographyDiagnostic radiologyFirearm injuriesFungal diseasesLesionsMycobacterium tuberculosisSpineVertebrae ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 July 1997 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...