Plasmodium falciparum in Ancient Egypt

peat analysis (MLVA) as described (1,3–5). Multilocus sequence typing profi les of these strains were identical to the type strain B. microti CCM 4915T and strain CCM 4916. MLVA showed that these strains also clustered with B. microti strains CCM 4915T and CCM 4916, with identical panel 1 and panel 2A genotypes but a different panel 2B genotype. In summary, we successfully isolated B. microti from soil samples collected at the same site 7 years after primary isolation of this novel species from common voles. B. microti could still be isolated from the same soil samples 6 months after storage at 4°C. This fi nding indicates long-term survival of B. microti in soil; thus, soil might function as a reservoir of infection. Identifi cation of B. microti as a potential soil bacterium is consistent with Brucella spp. whole genome sequencing data, in particular with the genome sequence of B. suis, which exhibits fundamental similarities with plant pathogens such as Agrobacterium spp. and Rhizobium spp. (6). Whether soil is the primary habitat of B. microti or other vectors, such as nematodes, remains to be investigated.