1. In 323 BC, Alexander the Great died in Babylon at the age of 32 following two weeks of severe illness. While some speculate that he was poisoned, an event described by Plutarch points to an infectious cause. Alexander was said to have walked amongst a flock of ravens exhibiting unusual behavior in the days leading up to his illness. What disease (and what complication of the disease) did he possibly die of?
Alexander of Macedon
2. Many medical historians still think that Alexander probably died from malaria (plasmodium falciparum), though there were no accounts of his illness coming and going. However, there are accounts of him complaining of intense abdominal pain and urine discoloration, and it is known he passed through marshland in India. What specific parasite could have been responsible?
3. Charles Darwin had a mysterious illness that is still not fully understood. Though based on his numerous GI symptoms, the location of his travels, and one of his journal entries, what is a reasonable hypothesis?
"At night I experienced an attack of the Benchuca, the great black bug of the Pampas. It is most disgusting to feel soft wingless insects, about an inch long, crawling over ones body; before sucking they are quite thin, but afterwards round & bloated with blood, & in this state they are easily squashed." *The "Benchuca" has a different name now... look it up if you need a hint.
Charles Darwin
4. Beethoven was frequently prescribed lead-based medications for a recurrent illness, and an autopsy report describing a cirrhotic liver points to lead infection as the main cause of death. However, a lead poisoning expert at Mount Sinai (Dr. Andrew Todd) tested a fragment of Beethoven's skull in 2005 and found no evidence of abnormal lead exposure. What is the most likely infectious cause of his death, given the presumed subclinical presentation?
ANSWERS:
1. west nile encephalitis
2. schistosoma haematobium
3. Chagas' disease (trypanosoma cruzi)
4. hepatits C
