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Sheeppox

All articles tagged with #sheeppox

science1 hour ago•6 min saved

Medieval parchments unlock a 3,500-year timeline of the sheeppox virus

A team sequenced sheeppox virus DNA preserved in parchment from medieval manuscripts in major libraries, recovering 21 ancient genomes dating from 1700 BCE to early modern Europe and showing the virus diverged from goatpox and lumpy skin disease 11,500–3,700 years ago. The work suggests parchments can preserve livestock pathogen DNA and that ancient outbreaks shaped European flocks, with some samples even from calfskin or goatskin indicating possible cross‑species infection or contamination.

via Ars Technica|

#ancientdna #capripoxvirus #medieval-manuscripts

archaeology1 hour ago•45 min saved

Ancient parchments reveal 3,700-year saga of the sheeppox virus

Ancient DNA extracted from medieval parchments and Bronze Age sheep remains shows the sheeppox virus (SPPV) spanning about 3,700 years, with 21 new ancient genomes recovered from manuscripts and skins. The findings suggest skins from infected animals were used for parchment, linking the virus’s history to sheep domestication and Eurasian livestock movements, while genetic analyses indicate long-term stability of the SPPV lineage (with major divergences dating back 11,500–3,700 years). The research underscores how parchment preserves a record of livestock disease that still poses risks today, reflected in contemporary outbreaks.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #domestication