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A Spongiform Encephalopathy Outbreak: Anthropophagy Or Not?

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A Spongiform Encephalopathy Outbreak: Anthropophagy Or Not? A SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY OUTBREAK: ANTHROPOPHAGY OR NOT? Mani Vessal A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilmrnt of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Anthropology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario June 281 1 999 copyright 1999, Mani Vessal National Library Bibliothèque nationale ($1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services seMces bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Otiawa ON KiA OF14 Canada Canada Your fi& Vorre refamœ Our IW Notre feWrI)Ree The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive Licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of ths thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/fd.m, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be p~tedor otherwike de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract Since the Kum endemic among the Fore Papua New Guinea, there have ken numerous theories proposed to explain the mode of transmission of the agent responsible for the spread of this fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The "cannibaiism" theory proposed by S. Lindenbaum and C.D. Gadjusek in the 1960's is now universally recognized. Due to the lack of evidence for the alleged cannibalistic practices by the Fore, this theory has been challenged in this thesis and an alternative model is proposed. Borrowing from L. Steadman's hypothesis, the new model is further strengthened through the aid of the *'prion theory", epidemiology, and a comparative analysis of the mortuary practices of Kukukuku (Anga) and Baktarnan. two relatives of Fore's linguistic stock, to gain a better understanding of Fore's funerary customs, and to examine the relationship between these customs to the spread of Kun. iii Acknowledgments The completion of this thesis has ken possible due to the academic and moral support which 1 have received in the past two years from Professor Charles Laughlin. and Dr. Byron Johnson. Their continuous guidance and advice have directed this research to its final stage. It has been an honour and privilege to have had the opportunity to cary out research under the supervision of such valuable mentors and fnends. Thanks to Gwen for introducing me to the Fore and the "Km Affair". 1 would also like to thank Melanie (ed. in-chieE) br her countless valuable suggestions. and endless patience, al1 of which made the progression of this thesis a possible task. Finally, a special thanks to my parents whose generosity. kindness, and support have transformed my educational goals into a reality . Table of Contents .. Thesis Acceptance Fom .......................................... 11... Abstract ....................................................... 111 Acknowiedgements ............................................... iv Table of Contents ................................................ v List of Figures ................................................... vi Chapter 1 : Introduction ............................................ 1 Chapter 2: Epidemiology of lnfectious Diseases .......................... (2.1) Classification of Animal Viruses ............................ (2.2) Entry of Viruses ........................................ (2.3) Subacute spongiform Encephalopathy ........................ (2.4) Clinical Features of SSE .................................. (2.5) Neurophysiology of Kuru ................................. (2.6) Kuru: The Clinical Features ............................... (2.7) Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease ................................ (2.8) Gerstrnann-Straussier-Scheinker Syndrome ................... (2.9) Bovine Spongifonn Encephalopathy ......................... (2.10) The Prion Theory ...................................... Chapter 3: Different Approaches to the Study of Ritual and Cannibalism ....... 31 (3.1) Solidaristic V.S. Agonistic Perspective ....................... 32 (3.2) Ritual Action: Cornpositional or Functional Perspective .......... 32 (3.3) Cannibalism ........................................... 31 Chapter 4: Baktarnan & Kukukuku: A Closer Look at Their Funerary Rituals & A New Mode1 for the Transmission of Kum Using Epidemiology ....42 (4.1) Culture of the Eastern Highlands ........................... 45 (4.2) Baktarnan ............................................. 46 (4.3) Kukukuku (ANGA) ..................................... 49 (4.4)MortuaryRites ......................................... 53 (4.5) Epidemiology .......................................... 56 (4.6) The Population Approach ................................ 58 (4.7) The Parasitic Mode1 ..................................... 58 (4.8)Hygiene .............................................. 65 Chapter 5: Conclusions & Future Implications ........................... 68 References ...........................+......................... 72 List of Figures & Tables Figure Description Page Map of Fore, Papua New Guinea ....................m.......m..m....... Pathogenesis of CNS Infection ..................................m......... Schematic representation of Basal Ganglia in relation to surrounding structures s.*m.mmmmmem.mm*.m*~mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Neural representation of the Primary, Seconda y, and Tertiary stages of the Kuru infected Cortex ...mm................. Location of Baktoman with respect to the Fore region ..... The Anga (Kukukuku) region witb respect to the Fore and other Eastern Highland tribes mmmmmmmmmmmmm.m.*.mm*.mm*mmmmemmmemm Alternative model for the transmission of the Kuru Agent during the mortuary rituals among the Fore of PNG ...... Schematic representation of the amplification of the Kuru S~readDuring the Fore Funerals .......................mm... Table: 4.1 Reported Iatrogenic Cases of CJD ..................................... 62 Chapter 1: Introduction HI Medical anthropology is a young sub-discipline of anthropology which is still in its developing stages. Begiming in the mid 1960's this discipline began to take shape when a number of anthropologists developed an interest in m aspect of anthropology which had never been before explored. This emerging discipline was not accepted imrnediately; as a consequence of being new to the world of academia, medical anthropology did not receive the respect that it deserved and Faced many criticisms. Today over thirty years later, credence has been given to this sub-discipline. and it has become a significant focus of both anthropology and medicine. Increased specialization of the iield is exemplitied by the fact that medical anthropology has been further divided into micro level specialties such as neuroanthropology. This specialization enables one to explore a neurological problem by using the tools of both medical neurology and anthropology. Among the many neurological disorden that exist today, ~um'makes an interesting case to explore from a medical anthropological perspective. Kuru is found in only one region of the world in a small area of the eastem highlands of Papua New Guinea (Figure 1). In the late 19501s, D. Carleton Gadjusek, a prominent virologist becarne informed about a new mysterious outbreak of a deadly ' One of the spongifonn encephalopathies (Prion diseases) which will be discussed in detail in chapter 2. disease in the Fore region of Papua New Guinea. Gadjusek camed out extensive research on what becarne classified as a neurodegenerative disorder and published numerous articles concerning di fferent aspects of the disease. Gadjusek's ho1 istic methodology was illustrated by the fact that he not only studied the genetics and the rnolecular aspects of the disease, but he also included the cultural context upon which the disease depended within the scope of his inquiry. As retlected in a statement made by one of his colleagues. Gadjusek was known to be exceptionally brilliant. and extremely goal oriented: ...he had an intelligence quotient up in the 180's and the emotional immaturity of a 15-year old. He is quite rnanically energetic when his enthusiasrn is aroused. and cminspire enthusiasm in his technical assistants. He is completely self-centred. thick-ski~ed,and inconsiderate. but equally won? let danger. physical difficulty, or other people's feelings interfere in the least with what he wants to do ... he has an obsessionai interest in children ...and he cm\ive cheerfully in a slum or a grass land. (Burnet. 197 1 ) This description is quite revealing and sheds some light on why Gadjusek was so intrigued and persistent in his investigation of the disease. Realizing the research opportunity surrounding the Kuru disorder, Gadjusek seized it immediately. Following twelve months of extensive research. Gadjusek and his colleague, Shirley Lindenbaum, reached a conclusion concerning the origin and spread of Km among the Fore people. As Lindenbaurn wrote in her book: Kuru Sorcery. "Western scientists now consider Kuru to be a slow virus infection spread by the ingestion of human flesh" (Lindenbaum, 1979). This theory however was proposed following a 4 number of long
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