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Medieval manuscripts are "biological time capsules" for deadly sheeppox virus
arstechnica.com • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers sequenced sheeppox virus DNA extracted from medieval parchment made from sheep skins, revealing that the virus has affected Eurasian sheep herds for at least 3,500 years.
- Analysis of manuscripts from various European collections showed frequent sheeppox outbreaks in medieval livestock, with the virus DNA also unexpectedly found on calfskin and goatskin parchments, suggesting possible cross-species infection or contamination.
- By comparing ancient viral genomes from parchments and Bronze Age sheep teeth, scientists determined that the sheeppox virus diverged from related Capripoxviruses between 11,500 and 3,700 years ago, aligning with early animal domestication in Europe.
- This study highlights how medieval parchment can preserve not only cultural history but also genetic evidence of historical livestock diseases, offering new insights into pathogen evolution through interdisciplinary scientific collaboration.
