While most of history credited Christopher Columbus for ferrying syphilis into Europe from the New World, new studies say this is no longer so. According to researchers from the Medical University of Vienna, syphilis cases dating back to the 14th century have been discovered. The findings, which evidenced several cases, not just of syphilis but of congenital syphilis indicate that this disease had been around and had been quite common in Central Europe even before Columbus was born.
Syphilis, which is caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria is said to display such symptoms as sore throat, rashes, heart illness, damage to the blood vessels and brain that may trigger stroke, heart disease, dementia and paralysis. Advanced cases may lead to death.
The skeletons, which provided the basis for the Viennese scientists' claim, were dug from Austria's Cathedral Square in St Pölten. The researchers analysed the odd tooth structure of the skeleton.
