Ancient manuscripts reveal history of sheeppox virus

An international team of researchers, led by scientists from University College Dublin, has discovered traces of the sheeppox virus within the DNA of medieval manuscripts. Because parchment was historically crafted from the skins of sheep, goats, and cattle, these ancient documents serve as biological archives that preserve the health status of animals at the time of their death.

The study, published in ‘Science Advances’, analyzed several significant works, including the 1,000-year-old York Gospels and the Corpus Glossary from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. In multiple instances, researchers found genetic material from the virus across several pages, suggesting the use of skins from infected animals during the manuscript production process.

By comparing the DNA found in these manuscripts with Bronze Age sheep teeth and modern viral samples, the team reconstructed a history of the pathogen. The findings indicate that the sheeppox virus has been a threat to European livestock for over 3,700 years, diverging from other capripoxviruses during the rise of animal domestication. This research highlights the potential for ancient texts to act as ‘biological time capsules’ for understanding pathogen evolution and its impact on past societies.