Refresh your knowledge! Did dinosaurs also catch colds? In fact, these diseases have been "passed down through the ages"

Refresh your cognition! Dinosaurs also caught colds - this may sound absurd, but the latest scientific research has revealed an astonishing fact for us: dinosaurs, these ancient creatures that once dominated the earth, were not immune to the respiratory infections we know today.

Dinosaurs' Colds: Clues from Fossils

The discovery comes from archaeological discoveries in southwestern Montana, where an international research team found a precious fossil evidence in the Morrison Formation. The fossil, labeled MOR 7029, belongs to a juvenile sauropod dinosaur, and its 5th to 7th cervical vertebrae show abnormal bone lesions. The researchers pointed out that these lesions are not common bone tumors, but are more likely to be air sac inflammation caused by respiratory infection.

From reference [1]: Pathological pneumatic tissue of MOR 7029

Air sac inflammation is a very common respiratory disease in birds today. It may be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and even difficulty breathing. However, it is currently impossible to determine the specific pathogen that caused this dinosaur's illness.

Air sac inflammation is a common respiratory disease in modern birds and can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. Patients usually experience symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, and even difficulty breathing in severe cases. Although we cannot know exactly what pathogen infected this dinosaur, this discovery undoubtedly opens a window for us to understand the physiological condition of dinosaurs.

The evolution of pathogens: from dinosaurs to today

The evolution of pathogens is a complex process, and their interactions with hosts shape their survival strategies. For example, the ancient origins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Hepatitis B virus suggest that these pathogens may have adapted to a variety of hosts, including dinosaurs and modern birds. This adaptability may be key to their ability to spread and persist between different hosts.

Researchers from the Faculty of Geosciences at the University of Silesia[2] analyzed fossils of marine herbivores from the Triassic period, about 245 million years ago, and found characteristic bone changes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This is the earliest evidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection found to date.

Specimen image, from reference [2]

We now know that HBV integrates into host genes, so we can speculate on the origin of hepatotropic viruses such as HBV by studying DNA in animal fossils. Researchers from the Department of Biology at the University of Texas found endogenous hepatitis viruses in the genome of zebra finches[3], some of which were infiltrated into the germline genome of passerine birds 19 million years ago, which means that hepatotropic DNA viruses (such as HBV) are much older than previously thought.

So many viruses, bacteria, etc. have actually existed for many years, so it is not surprising that dinosaurs were infected.

The impact of disease on ecosystems: from ancient times to the present

Diseases not only affect individual organisms, but can have profound effects on entire ecosystems. Diseases during the dinosaur era may have changed the distribution and abundance of species, affecting food chains and ecological balance.

Diseases still play a role in the extinction of some species today:

In the late 1800s, many native bird populations in Hawaii were decimated and eventually exterminated by the spread of avian malaria and fowl pox. These diseases were spread by native and non-native bird populations that were tolerant of these pathogens and acted as reservoirs.

Once abundant endemic rats on Christmas Island, such as Rattus macleari and Rattus nativitas, suddenly disappeared in the early 20th century, which was associated with the introduction of black rats (R. rattus) that carry trypanosomiasis.

Common diseases between dinosaurs and modern organisms: the intersection of genetics and environment

The discovery of dinosaur "colds" and other ancient pathogens reveals the role of genetic and environmental factors in the occurrence of disease; diseases are also changing the genetics and survival status of organisms.

Studying these interactions can help us understand the origins and transmission mechanisms of modern diseases and better contribute to achieving human health and living in harmony with nature.

This knowledge will also help us better protect modern biodiversity, while also providing valuable clues for future scientific research.

References:

[1]Woodruff DC, Wolff EDS, Wedel MJ, et al. The first occurrence of an avian-style respiratory infection in a non-avian dinosaur. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):1954.

[2]Surmik D, Szczygielski T, Janiszewska K, et al. Tuberculosis-like respiratory infection in 245-million-year-old marine reptile suggested by bone pathologies. R Soc Open Sci. 2018;5(6):180225.

[3]Gilbert C, Feschotte C. Genomic fossils calibrate the long-term evolution of hepadnaviruses. PLoS Biol. 2010;8(9):e1000495.

[4]McCallum H. Disease and the dynamics of extinction. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2012;367(1604):2828-39.

Author: Jiang Yongyuan, Master of Internal Medicine, Third Military Medical University

Reviewer: Sun Yifei, Director of the Medical Education History Research Office, Hebei Medical University

The article is produced by Science Popularization China-Creation Cultivation Program. Please indicate the source when reprinting.