Medieval Manuscripts Reveal Genetic History of Sheeppox Virus
Scientists have successfully extracted and sequenced sheeppox DNA from medieval manuscripts, using the animal skins (parchment) as 'biological time capsules.' This research, published in the journal Science Advances, aims to reconstruct the evolution of the sheeppox virus over the past 3,500 years. Sheeppox is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that was largely eradicated from European livestock in the 20th century, though regional outbreaks still occur. The earliest written evidence of sheeppox dates back to the first century CE in Roman accounts, with more frequent mentions in medieval agricultural texts from France, Spain, and England. The study highlights that archives and libraries worldwide may contain genetic traces of past disease outbreaks in animals, offering new avenues for understanding pathogen evolution and their historical impact on societies. 
