Lytic skull lesion by Leishmaniasis at Makat-Tampu during the Inca Empire: XV-XVI centuries, Rímac Valley, Peru

Abstract

Paleopathological evidence of mucosal alteration deforming human population of ancient Peru suggests the presence of mucosal leishmaniasis (LM) in the agricultural population living near the endemic area between XV-XVI centuries. The pathological anatomy studies was divided in two phases: 1) pattern of mucosal form in human crania was defined among selected patients, from the Research Center Hospital Evandro Chagas (Fiocruz), with clinical history and destruction of the facial bones, principally oro-nasal cavity. Seven cases were selected. All caused by Leishmania (V.) braziliensis: 6 men and 1 woman with age up to 35 years old. X-ray pictures and axial tomography of the cranium were performed in order to define the pathologic pattern in the bones; 2) archaeological material was analyzed and compared in 241 skulls from the Department of Physical Anthropology of the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History, Lima, Peru. Material was well preserved and we identified five cases (4 men and 1 woman) with age up to 35 years old presenting naso-palatine destruction, compatible with mucosal form defined by clinical casuistic. It proceeded from the Inca cemetery of Makat-Tampu, Rimac Valley. The rate of mucosal lesions (2.07%) compatible with ML may suggest that there was a high prevalence of L. braziliensis complex infection in the pre-hispanic times and confirm our hypothesis. This study was based on biocultural focus, aiming to reconstruct the quotidian life of the agricultural population of the Rimac valley during the Inca occupation.