# Evidence of brucellosis infection in the Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery

## TL;DR

Researchers found evidence of brucellosis in ancient human remains by analyzing DNA from dental calculus.

## Contribution

This is the first successful extraction of brucellosis DNA from dental calculus in archaeological remains.

## Key findings

- Three individuals showed DNA evidence of Brucella species in their dental calculus.
- This is the first documented case of brucellosis DNA extracted from dental calculus.
- Respiratory infections were a leading cause of death at the Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery.

## Abstract

Forty-seven skeletonized individuals from the Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery (MCPFC) had DNA extracted from their dental calculus to look for the presence of respiratory pathogens. The MCPFC is curated by the Archaeology Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. According to the death records, respiratory infections and pneumonias were a leading cause of death. Polymerase Chain Reaction was run to examine the extracted DNA for evidence of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
,
Brucella
species, and
Streptococcus pneumoniae
. Three individuals had IS711 present in their dental calculus, suggesting infection by
Brucella
species. This is the first documented brucellosis DNA successfully extracted from dental calculus.