A case of sepsis in a 17th century man from Porto Ercole – Author's reply
2018; Elsevier BV; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30726-6
ISSN1474-4457
Autores Tópico(s)Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
ResumoI thank Antonio Perciaccante and colleagues for their comments on our Correspondence1Drancourt M Barbieri R Cilli E et al.Did Caravaggio die of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis?.Lancet Infect Dis. 2018; 18: 1178Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar reporting on the remains of a man who died from Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, who we considered to be Caravaggio. Of course, history is always subject to multiple questions and there is always a proportion of uncertainty. Regarding Caravaggio, the conjunction of his description at arrival in Porto Ercole together with the finding of a skeleton that had his size and age, whose date of burial and carbon 14 dating corresponded to that of Caravaggio, and in whom we identified a haplotype Y-STR that is substantially more common in contemporary people with the Merisi surname, are all concordant elements. Genetic relationships do not require direct descendants, and the Y chromosome, except in special conditions, is the marking of the surname, and thus translates into a family relationship.2King TE Jobling MA What's in a name? Y chromosomes, surnames and the genetic genealogy revolution.Trends Genet. 2009; 25: 351-360Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (126) Google Scholar, 3Oefner PJ Holzi G Shen P et al.Genetics and the history of the Samaritans: Y-chromosomal microsatellites and genetic affinity between Samaritans and Cohanim.Hum Biol. 2013; 85: 825-858Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar Here, the Y chromosome shows a link between the skeleton and the Merisi surname. The ensemble of evidence leaves little doubt about the nature of the skeleton, except for the hypothesis that another Merisi of the same age, with wound infection resulting in osteomyelitis, and 1·65 m in height was also buried in Porto Ercole at the same time, which seems unlikely statistically. The taste of mystery that surrounds brilliant artists is not satisfied with simple answers. Finally, our hypothesis is that the source of S aureus sepsis was an osteomyelitis of the leg, the trace of which was found, and which probably dates from an older wound. To conclude, like the investigation of cold cases in general, there is always some uncertainty, but the data are so convergent that outside the principle of doubt that animates any scientist, it is difficult not to conclude that this was indeed Caravaggio's skeleton. I declare no competing interests. A case of sepsis in a 17th century man from Porto ErcoleWe read with interest the Correspondence by Michel Drancourt and colleagues1 concerning the identification of a case of Staphilococcus aureus sepsis in the skeletal remains of an early 17th century man exhumed at Porto Ercole (Italy). These remains have been confidently attributed by Drancourt and colleagues to Michelangelo Merisi, also known as Caravaggio. We wish to point out several inconsistencies in Caravaggio's identification, place of death, and cause of his death. Full-Text PDF Did Caravaggio die of Staphylococcus aureus sepsis?Caravaggio, also known as Michelangelo Merisi (1571–1610), was a revolutionary painter who influenced many artists during his lifetime and after his death (figure). The painter had a turbulent life during which he was involved in many fights and battles. Caravaggio left Rome after he was sentenced to death, and one final fight forced him to leave Chiaia in Naples around July 9, 1610. Navigating from Naples, Caravaggio's boat stopped at Palo, a port 20 miles from Rome, where he was arrested and incarcerated. Full-Text PDF
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