Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
05:29
Propagation of the Microsporidian Parasite Edhazardia aedis in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes
Published on: August 13, 2020
5.5K
Demystifying the epidemic among Achaeans during the Trojan War
Gregory Tsoucalas1, Konstantinos Laios1, Marianna Karamanou1
1History of Medicine Department, University of Athens, Greece.
Le Infezioni in Medicina
|January 1, 2015
Summary
Homer
Area of Science:
- Ancient History
- Epidemiology
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Homer's epics contain medical terminology, suggesting potential ancient medical knowledge.
- The Trojan War narrative mentions a devastating pestilence affecting the Achaeans.
- Apollo Smintheus, the Mouse God, was invoked by Chryses, leading to outbreaks.
Observation:
- The pestilence described by Homer lacked specific symptoms.
- The earliest casualties of the plague were equines (mules) and canines (dogs).
- Apollo Smintheus's invocation coincided with two separate pestilence events.
Findings:
- This study proposes that the pestilence was caused by an Alphavirus.
- Alphaviruses are known to cause severe epidemics in both human and animal populations.
- Equines are particularly susceptible to Alphavirus infections.
Implications:
- Reinterpreting ancient texts through a modern scientific lens.
- Understanding the potential for ancient epidemics to be caused by known viral agents.
- Highlighting the zoonotic potential of Alphaviruses in historical contexts.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
73
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable...
73
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
1.8K
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
1.8K
01:20Infection
14.9K
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
14.9K
02:33Retroviruses
16.3K
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
16.3K
01:27Influenza
57
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
57
01:29Viruses of Archaea
689
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
689