Neolithic Yersinia pestis infections in humans and a dog

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06676-7
• Publication Date: 2024-08-18T12:01:52Z
• Authors: Julian Susat; Magdalena Haller-...; Joanna H. Bonczar...; Nicolas A. da Silva; Kerstin Schierhold; Michael M. Rind; Ulrich Schmölcke; Wiebke Kirleis; Holger Sondermann; Christoph Rinne; Johannes Müller; Almut Nebel; Ben Krause-Kyora
• Keywords: Yersinia pestis; plague; Pandemic; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Yersinia pestis has been infecting humans since the Late Neolithic (LN). Whether those early infections were isolated zoonoses or initiators of a pandemic remains unclear. We report Y. in two individuals (of 133) from LN necropolis at Warburg (Germany, 5300-4900 cal BP). Our analyses show that genomes belong to distinct strains and reflect independent infection events. All known today (n = 4) are basal phylogeny represent separate lineages probably originated different animal hosts. In LN, an opening landscape resulted introduction new rodent species, which may have acted as reservoirs. Coincidentally, number dogs increased, possibly leading canines. Indeed, we detect dog. Collectively, our data suggest frequently entered human settlements time without causing significant outbreaks.