Discovered by hikers in the Ötztal Alps in 1991, the preserved body of a man who lived over 5,300 years ago offers a window into the Copper Age. This individual, known as Ötzi the Iceman, was approximately 45 years old when he died. The ice that encased him for millennia kept his body and belongings in a state that allowed scientists to learn details about his life. Analysis of his remains has uncovered facts about his health, including the presence of an ancient infectious disease.
The Scientific Evidence for Lyme Disease
A comprehensive analysis of Ötzi’s genome has provided proof of his infection. Scientists performed this analysis by extracting a sample from his hip bone and searching for genetic material from any other organisms present. During this genomic sequencing, researchers identified DNA fragments belonging to Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen known to cause Lyme disease.
While other microbes were found, Borrelia burgdorferi was the only identifiable pathogen for a known disease. Subsequent analysis confirmed that this finding represents the earliest documented case of Lyme disease in a human.
Ötzi’s Health and Potential Symptoms
The identification of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ötzi’s DNA provides a link to his known physical ailments. A common outcome of a long-term Lyme disease infection is persistent joint pain, which corresponds with the osteoarthritis found in Ötzi’s skeletal remains. This degenerative joint disease was particularly advanced in his ankles, knees, and spine.
While the infection cannot be named the sole cause of his joint problems, the pathogen offers a strong potential explanation for the severity of his condition. The bacterial infection likely contributed to the painful symptoms he would have experienced.
Implications for the History of Lyme Disease
The discovery of Lyme disease in a 5,300-year-old mummy altered the timeline of this illness. Before the analysis of Ötzi, the disease was understood as a modern phenomenon, recognized after cases appeared in Lyme, Connecticut, in the 1970s. Finding the infection in a Copper Age man proved that the disease is an ancient affliction.
This evidence demonstrates that the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium has been co-evolving with human populations in Europe for millennia. Ötzi’s case shows that the interaction between humans, ticks, and this pathogen is a long-established relationship, underscoring that diseases we perceive as recent can have deep historical roots.