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Aetiology

Discussing causes, origins, evolution, and implications of disease and other phenomena.

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"...a veritable expert on tawdry cosmetic procedures gone horribly awry..."--Kevin Beck

Tara C. Smith is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology. Her research involves a number of pathogens at the animal-human nexus. Additionally, she is the founder of Iowa Citizens for Science and also writes for The Panda's Thumb and WIRED SCIENCE's Correlations. Please note the views expressed on this site are Dr. Smith's alone and may not be representative of the groups mentioned above.

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Infectious Disease Series

Historical studies of disease:

Yellow fever: the American plague

The fever hit suddenly in the form of a piercing headache and painful sensitivity to light, like looking into a white sun. At that point, the patient could still hope that it was not yellow fever, maybe just a...

Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 4: Plague in modern times

Though there still may be some lingering doubt about the cause of the Black Death and subsequent outbreaks of plague, the pathogen behind the outbreaks that have taken place in the last 150 years or so is much less ambiguous. What is the current state of plague epidemiology, and what does the future hold?

Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 3: Paleomicrobiology and the detection of Y. pestis in corpses

When looking for the cause of historical outbreaks, symptoms only get us so far. How can we use DNA analysis to help confirm (or reject) a hypothesis about causation?

Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 2: Examination of the criticisms

I discussed yesterday an "alternative" hypothesis for causation of the Black Death and subsequent plague outbreaks. How robust are those claims?

Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 1: Objections to Y. pestis causation

Scientists have accepted Yersinia pestis as the cause of the Black Death for over a century. Are they correct?

"What caused the Black Plague?" series

Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 1: Objections to Y. pestis causation Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 2: Examination of the criticisms Did Yersinia pestis really cause Black Plague? Part 3: Paleomicrobiology and the detection...

Where did syphilis come from?

Did Columbus and his sailors bring syphilis back to Europe from the New World, or was it an ancient, but previously unrecognized, infection there? A new paper sheds additional light on the controversy.

Retrospectacle does plague

I'll have new posts up here next week, but meanwhile, over at Retrospectacle, Shelley's made this week plague week. She introduces the topic here, and next dishes about plague fashion. Also in the comments, it's asked: I recently heard that...

"Twelve Diseases that Changed Our World"

Learning from history to avoid repeating it. Ideally.

What have been the most significant diseases in history?

What would you pick?

Vaccine by Arthur Allen

Everything you've ever wanted to know about the history (and current status) of vaccination.

Swine flu in Ohio fairgoers?

County fairs can be hazardous to your health, for more reasons than the elephant ears and deep-fried twinkies...

Introduction to Marburg virus: history of outbreaks

As I've noted before, filoviruses are some of my favorite pathogens. I don't work on them myself--though in the pre-children era I certainly thought about it--but I find them absolutely fascinating to read about and follow the literature. Mostly, I...

The discovery of highly virulent XDR-TB

A small research study in South Africa led to the discovery of one of the most deadly pathogens around today.

The outbreak that shaped the course of history

How a cholera outbreak 150 years ago still affects science, the building of cities, and our modern lives.

Did Hitler have syphilis?

How has syphilis influenced the course of history?

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