A dangerous bacterium might have been present in the teeth of the poet Pablo Neruda before his death. An expert report submitted to the Chilean justice system in February confirmed this, and the family presented the result as evidence in a case that questions whether murder occurred under the Augusto Pinochet regime, which seized power in Chile not long before Neruda’s death. Yet the exact cause remains puzzling, and the full story is not yet clear.
poet’s death
Neruda passed away on September 23, 1973, just twelve days after Pinochet’s coup. The official cause cited prostate cancer and a urinary tract infection. In later years, a different narrative emerged from Neruda’s driver, who claimed there was an injection given hours before death. This alternative account suggested poisoning as a factor, a theory the Chilean Communist Party and Neruda’s family have explored in pursuit of answers.
commission of inquiry
In response to the concerns raised, a judge ordered Neruda’s remains exhumed and appointed a panel of experts to study them. In 2013, analyses looked for signs of poisoning and other anomalies; the results did not confirm poisoning, though they indicated illness that may have progressed to affect the bones. The inquiry thus shifted to understanding the full medical history and the possibility of other contributing factors.
By 2015 a new commission was formed to examine potential biological agents. The panel included scientists from McMaster University in Canada and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. In 2017 the group reported detecting a bacterium identified as Clostridium botulinum in Neruda’s teeth, a finding associated with botulism when toxins are produced under certain conditions.
Final expert opinion
The same laboratories contributed to the most recent research, drawing on advanced ancient DNA technology typically used to study long extinct organisms. Two authors described how metagenomics was applied to Neruda’s remains, a method that separates human DNA from microbial DNA present in the sample. They note that DNA related to dental caries and urinary tract infections appeared in the findings, illustrating how microbial signatures can reveal a medical history.
Was the bacteria poisonous?
Researchers reconstructed about a third of the Clostridium botulinum genome found in the remains. Some strains are not toxic, but specialists identified segments linked to the production of botulinum toxin. A gene involved in toxin synthesis was highlighted by experts in the field who were not part of the study, emphasizing that careful interpretation is required when partial genomes are involved.
Yet one researcher remained cautious, noting that the work was partial and that more studies are needed to confirm the presence of toxic genes. The team stresses that further verification is necessary before drawing final conclusions about a direct link to poisoning.
Bacteria in the poet’s body
The forensic panel examined how time and environmental factors influence bacterial DNA, comparing degradation patterns with other cases. The researchers concluded that the bacteria could have been present at the time of death rather than entering later. However, the ubiquity of Clostridium botulinum in soil means the possibility of postmortem contamination cannot be completely ruled out. Experts in the field caution that degradation levels alone do not precisely date the onset of bacterial presence.
Another scholar noted that bacteria could enter the teeth after death, and that comparing degradation across samples is not a definitive measure of timing. The discussion also included views from other scientists who emphasize the variability of environmental conditions and how they affect DNA preservation.
Bacteria injected?
The Neruda family’s lawyer and Neruda’s nephew announced the results as proof of poisoning, arguing that bacteria must have been introduced to reach the bloodstream and teeth. Some observers contest this view, noting that there is no scientific guarantee of poisoning and that the evidence does not close the case. The debate continues, with some arguing that poisoning tests target purified toxins rather than the bacteria that produce them, and the absence of toxins in the samples is not conclusive.
One biochemist outside the study suggests that contamination with a toxin-bearing bacterium could have occurred, while another expert echoes that ingestion of bacteria could also cause harm. A different line of thought considers unintentional poisoning as a possible factor affecting other patients as well, adding to the complexity of the discussion.
Other theories
A simpler explanation is offered by a toxicologist who participated in the 2013 and 2017 panels. The regime may have had motives to hasten Neruda’s death, yet there is no single piece of clinical data proving definitive care or neglect. Some researchers remain cautious about absolute conclusions, noting that the absence of one clear answer does not erase the possibility of foul play, but it also does not confirm it beyond doubt. The nephew’s statements about a definitive silver bullet are treated with skepticism by several experts, who urge cautious interpretation of all available evidence.