Microscopic Evidence of Malaria Infection in Visceral Tissue from Medici Family, Italy

Abstract

Microscopy of mummified visceral tissue from a Medici family member in Italy identified a potential blood vessel containing erythrocytes. Giemsa staining, atomic force microscopy, and immunohistochemistry confirmed Plasmodium falciparum inside those erythrocytes. Our results indicate an ancient Mediterranean presence of P. falciparum, which remains responsible for most malaria deaths in Africa.

Keywords: Italy; Medici; Plasmodium falciparum; atomic force microscopy; immunohistochemistry; malaria; parasites; vector-borne infections; zoonoses.

Figure

Microscopic analysis of malaria infection in visceral tissue from Medici family, Italy. We evaluated a 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm tissue piece (ID 1297) from 1 jar containing viscera of a Medici family member and identified a potential blood vessel containing erythrocytes. A) Histological cross section of the tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin; scale bar indicates 200 µm. Inset shows a possible erythrocyte; scale bar indicates 3 µm. B) Giemsa staining of a paraffin section of viscera suggesting the presence of parasites within the erythrocytes. Scale bar indicates 50 µm. C) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the tissue section. An optical microscope was used to define appropriate sample areas for AFM imaging (left image); scale bar indicates 20 µm. Enlarged area at right shows a ring stage of Plasmodium falciparum in an erythrocyte; scale bar indicates 2 µm.