DNA of soldiers' teeth reveals disease that killed Napoleon's army
DNA analysis of soldiers' teeth has found two infections that doomed Emperor Napoleon's troops during Moscow retreat. Using shotgun sequencing, they identified Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, which causes paratyphoid fever, and Borrelia recurrentis, responsible for relapsing fever. The findings fit with historical descriptions of symptoms experienced by Napoleon's army, like fever and diarrhoea.