The Origin and Antiquity of Syphilis: Paleopathological Diagnosis and Interpretation [and Comments and Reply]

A review of the literature regarding the origin of syphilis in light of paleopathological diagnosis & interpretation strongly suggests a New World origin. Whereas the evidence for pre-Columbian treponematosis in the Old World is documentary & equivocal, abundant skeletal evidence indicates the presence of a nonvenereal form of treponemal infection in the Americas before Christopher Columbus's arrival. Comparisons are made to the contemporary epidemic of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Comments are offered by: Marshall Joseph Becker (West Chester U, Pa); Don Brothwell (Instit of Archaeology, U of London, England); Andrea Drusini (U of Padua, Italy); Marie Clabeaux Geise (State U Of New York Coll, Buffalo); Marc A. Kelley (U of Rhode Island, Kingston); Iwataro Morimoto (St. Marianna U, Miyamae, Kawasaki, Kanagowa, Japan); Alan G. Morris (U of Cape Town, South Africa); George T. Nurse (U of Papua New Guinea, Boroko NCD); Mary Lucas Powell (Museum of Anthropology, U of Kentucky, Lexington); Bruce M. Rothschild (Carnegie Instit, Pittsburgh, Pa); Shelley R. Saunders (McMaster U, Hamilton, Ontario); Milan Stloukal (Narodni Muzeum v Praze, Prague, Czechoslovakia); Rebecca Storey (U of Houston, Tex); David S. Weaver (Wake Forest U, Winston-Salem, NC); Al B. Wesolowsky (Boston U, Mass); & John A. Williams (U of North Dakota, Grand Forks), followed by a Reply by the authors. 216 References. Modified HA