Research Team Successfully Reveals The Origin Of Deadly Diseases Since Thousands Of Years Ago

Scientific research illustration. (Unsplash/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

JAKARTA - A large-scale study tracing the history of human diseases up to 37,000 years ago identified bacteria, viruses, and dangerous parasites that have infected humans for thousands of years, revealing the earliest evidence of pes bacteria from about 5,500 years ago.

The researchers analyzed DNA from the bones and teeth of 1,313 individuals living across Europe and Asia collectively known as Eurasia from the Early Stone Age, about 12,500 years ago, up to about 200 years ago. The oldest sample dates back to 37,000 years.

The study found the earliest evidence of zoonosis disease 'a disease transmitted from animals to humans' emerged some 6,500 years ago and spread more about 1,500 years later.

"We have long suspected that the transition to agriculture and livestock opens the door to a new era of disease. Now, DNA shows that it happened at least 6,500 years ago," said Professor Eske Willerslev of Cambridge University and Copenhagen, as reported by the Daily Sabah of the August 20 DPA.

"This infection not only causes disease, but may also contribute to population downturn, migration, and genetic adaptation," he continued.

The study detected the oldest gestationary Yersinia genetic footprint in the world, the bacteria that caused the outbreak, in samples dating back 5,500 years. The outbreak is thought to have killed between a quarter to half of Europe's population during the Middle Ages.

"This is just the oldest example of an outbreak we have seen to date," said Frederik Seersholm of Copenhagen University.

"When you look at these findings, you can really see how the outbreak evolves over time towards a version we know from 'Maut Hitam', a pandemic that hit Europe from 1346 to 1353 and killed up to 40 percent of the population in some areas."

Traces of other diseases were also found: a diphtheria dating back 11,000 years, hepatitis B about 9,800 years ago, and malaria 4,200 years ago. In total, researchers identified 214 human pathogens known in prehistoric Eurasian populations.

The study was published in July in the journal "Nature".

Professor Astrid Iversen of the University of Oxford said zoonosis was "completely endemic" about 5,000 years ago.

"Zoonosis is the first time a big problem for humans when we start raising animals together in large swarms and living close to these animals," explained Iversen.

"This means animals can more easily infect each other, increasing the risk of disease transmission to humans," he added.

Martin Sikora, lead author of Copenhagen University, said understanding how diseases evolved in the past "could help us prepare ourselves for the future."

Willerslev agrees, and says that mapping ancient diseases can help develop vaccines.

"You can see when viruses or bacteria mutate, how quickly the genome changes, and which mutations are significant," Willerslev said.

"Successful mutations in the past are likely to reappear," he concluded.