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The occurrence of rabies in pre-Columbian Central America: an historical search

A Vos1, C Nunan, D Bolles

  • 1IDT Biologika GmbH, Dessau-Rosslau, Germany. ad.vos@idt-biologika.de

Epidemiology and Infection
|July 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated pre-Columbian rabies in the Americas. While direct evidence is lacking, circumstantial findings suggest bat rabies existed before European arrival.

Area of Science:

  • * Paleovirology and Historical Epidemiology
  • * Investigating ancient infectious diseases in Central America

Background:

  • * Rabies is an ancient zoonotic disease with a long history in humans.
  • * The earliest documented rabies cases in the Americas date to the 18th century in Mexico.

Observation:

  • * Searched for evidence of rabies in Maya and Aztec cultures.
  • * Examined manuscripts from conquistadors and early explorers for disease descriptions.

Findings:

  • * No definitive direct evidence confirms rabies knowledge in pre-Columbian Central America.
  • * Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests the presence of bat-borne rabies during this period.

Implications:

  • * Understanding the historical presence of rabies in the Americas.
  • * Informing future research on zoonotic disease emergence in ancient populations.

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