Possible Brucellosis in an Early Hominin Skeleton from Sterkfontein, South Africa

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We report on the paleopathological analysis of the partial skeleton of the late Pliocene hominin species Australopithecus africanus Stw 431 from Sterkfontein, South Africa. A previous study noted the presence of lesions on vertebral bodies diagnosed as spondylosis deformans due to trauma. Instead, we suggest that these lesions are pathological changes due to the initial phases of an infectious disease, brucellosis. The macroscopic, microscopic and radiological appearance of the lytic lesions of the lumbar vertebrae is consistent with brucellosis. The hypothesis of brucellosis (most often associated with the consumption of animal proteins) in a 2.4 to 2.8 million year old hominid has a host of important implications for human evolution. The consumption of meat has been regarded an important factor in supporting, directing or altering human evolution. Perhaps the earliest (up to 2.5 million years ago) paleontological evidence for meat eating consists of cut marks on animal remains and stone tools that could have made these marks. Now with the hypothesis of brucellosis in A. africanus, we may have evidence of occasional meat eating directly linked to a fossil hominin.

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2 years 42 weeks ago – Made popular 2 years 42 weeks ago
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Oldest evidence of stone tool use and meat-eating among human ancestors discovered: Lucy's species butchered meat 1 year 40 weeks ago: Scientists have discovered evidence that human ancestors were using stone tools and consuming meat from large mammals nearly a million years earlier than previously documented. Two fossilized bones with cut marks and percussion marks were unearthed in Ethiopia. The bones are about 3.4 million years old and provide the first evidence that Australopithecus afarensis used stone tools and consumed meat.
Scientists discover oldest evidence of stone tool use and meat-eating among human ancestors 1 year 40 weeks ago: (California Academy of Sciences) An international team of scientists led by Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged from the California Academy of Sciences has discovered evidence that human ancestors were using stone tools and consuming meat from large mammals nearly a million years earlier than previously documented. Two fossilized bones with cut marks and percussion marks were unearthed in Ethiopia. The bones are about 3.4 million years old and provide the first evidence that Australopithecus afarensis used stone tools and consumed meat.
Scientists discover oldest evidence of human stone tool use and meat-eating 1 year 40 weeks ago: (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) New finds from Dikika, Ethiopia, push back the first stone tool use and meat-consumption by almost one million years and provide the first evidence that these behaviors can be attributed to Lucy's species -- Australopithecus afarensis.
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Virginia Tech wildlife researcher finds brucellosis pathogen persists in Botswana buffalo 11 weeks 1 hour ago: (Virginia Tech) Alexander's study found that buffalo may not only be a potential source of the brucellosis pathogen for Botswana's domestic cattle, but they may also pose a threat to humans who consume buffalo meat.
Animal bone markings show evidence that 'Lucy' species used stone tools, ate meat 1 year 40 weeks ago: (Arizona State University) Two Arizona State University researchers are members of an international team who conclude that human ancestors began using stone tools and eating meat some 800,000 years earlier that previous estimates.
Evidence that human ancestors used fire one million years ago 6 weeks 6 days ago: Scientists have identified the earliest known evidence of the use of fire by human ancestors. Microscopic traces of wood ash, alongside animal bones and stone tools, were found in a layer dated to one million years ago at the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa.
New evidence suggests that Au. sediba is the best candidate for the genus Homo 22 weeks 12 hours ago: A series of papers based on new evidence pertaining to various aspects of the anatomy of the species Australopithecus sediba reveals new, important elements attributed to Au. Sediba, the two type skeletons -- an analysis of the most complete hand ever described in an early hominin, the most complete undistorted pelvis ever discovered, the most accurate scan of an early human ancestors brain, new pieces of the foot and ankle, and one of the most accurate dates ever achieved for an early hominin site in Africa.
Scientists counter brucellosis threat to livestock and wildlife 1 year 44 weeks ago: Armed with dart guns and medical pellets, scientists are vaccinating bison in and around Yellowstone National Park against brucellosis.

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