Objective:

To identify infectious diseases that may have contributed to the collapse of Napoleon's army during the 1812 retreat from Russia.

Key Findings:

• Genetic traces of paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever were identified in the soldiers.
• Four of the 13 individuals tested positive for S. enterica, and two for B. recurrentis.
• Historical accounts align with symptoms of paratyphoid infection, including diarrhea and fever.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that multiple infections, exacerbated by harsh conditions, contributed to the high mortality rate among Napoleon's troops.

Limitations:

• The small sample size limits the ability to determine the full range of diseases affecting the soldiers.
• Clinical differentiation of overlapping symptoms would have been impossible at the time.

Conclusion:

The study underscores the importance of ancient DNA analysis in understanding historical disease outbreaks and their impact on military campaigns.