Microscopic evidence of malaria in the Medici era

Malaria was common in Renaissance Italy. The disease was known as “Febbre terzana” at the time as an onset of the fever occurred in intervals of two to three days. A research team led by Eurac Research has now microscopically detected the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the dangerous malaria tropica in soft tissue from embalming vessels found at the…