DOCSLIB.ORG

Archaeoparasitology Karl J

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Archaeoparasitology Karl J University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Faculty Publications Anthropology, Department of 1-1-2008 Archaeoparasitology Karl J. Reinhard University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected] Adauto Araújo Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Reinhard, Karl J. and Araújo, Adauto, "Archaeoparasitology" (2008). Anthropology Faculty Publications. Paper 22. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub/22 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Encyclopedia of Archaeology, p. 494-501, ed. by Deborah M. Pearsall. ©2008, Elsevier, Academic Press, New York. Used by permission. Archaeoparasitology Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA ([email protected]) Adauto Araújo, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Glossary archeoparasitology The study of parasite evidence from ar- cheological sites. acanthocephalan Any of various worms in the phylum cestode Any of the parasitic flatworms of the class Ces- Acanthocephala, also called thorny-headed worms, living toidea, including the tapeworms, having a long, segmented, in intestines of vertebrates having a retractile proboscis cov- flat body equipped with a specialized organ of attachment ered with many hooked spines. at one end. anthelminthic A compound that affects and causes the ex- ectoparasite Parasites such as lice and flies that live on the pulsion of parasitic intestinal worms. body’s outer surface. 494 Archaeoparasitology 495 endoparasite Parasites such as blood flukes and pinworms and also by certain gross pathology they left in their that infect the internal parts of the body. mummified hosts. Helminths are parasitic worms in- helminth Worm that is parasitic on vertebrates, especially cluding nematode roundworms, cestode tapeworms, roundworms and tapeworms, thorny-headed worms, and trematode flukes, and acanthocephalan thorny- flukes. host An organism that provides food and shelter to a para- headed worms. Helminth eggs from some species are site. microparasites laid in thousands within their hosts. Helminth eggs A microscopic organism of medical importance including from humans and domestic animals contaminated an- bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. cient villages. The eggs are very durable and are eas- infestation Parasites that are present on the outside of the ily retrieved from archaeological sediments, copro- hosts, such as ectoparasites, or the contamination of a habitat lites, and mummies. Fleas and lice can be found with arthropods such as mosquitoes, bed bugs, and ticks. on mummies and also in archaeological sediments. infection Parasites that are present inside the host organism, Lice are especially important in mummy studies be- Including helminths and microparasites. nematode Any of phylum Nematoda of elongated cylindri- cause the eggs are cemented on hair shafts. There- cal worms some of which are parasitic in animals and plants, fore, examination of scalps from mummies provides a and others of which are free-living in soil or water. method of quantifying infestations between individ- parasite An organism that lives at the expense of its host by uals and sites. taking energy from the host and sometimes causing pathol- The discipline that focuses on the relationships be- ogy in the host. tween behavior, environment, and parasite infection prevalence Number of hosts in a population infected with a is archaeoparasitology. This field developed from the parasite at any one time. need for a fine-tuned analysis of prehistoric ecologi- protozoa (parasitic) Single-cell organisms, some of which are parasitic and can only reproduce within a host organism. cal and behavioral conditions to assess the factors that Malaria is caused by a protozoa, Plasmodium. Other proto- affected disease. Archaeoparasitology depends on ar- zoan parasites are Giardia and Toxoplasma. chaeological information regarding community size, trematode Referring to flukes, phylum Trematoda, which trade patterns, water sources, subsistence practices, are parasitic flatworms having external suckers for attach- social stratification, environment, medicine use, and ing to a host. many other lines of modern archaeological investiga- vector An animal, usually a biting insect, that is responsible tion. It also depends on biological understanding of for the transmission of a parasitic organism. complex parasite life cycles and other dimensions of parasite ecology. When broadly applied, archaeopar- Introduction asitology defines the rise in parasitic disease associ- ated with the development of complex societies and Parasites are the major cause of ill health and early changes in subsistence strategies. In a more restricted death in the world today. Malaria, sleeping sickness, application, archeoparasitology sheds light on the amoebic dysentery, and hookworm infection are ex- health impact of urbanization and empire expansion. amples of commonplace parasitic diseases that are en- When tightly applied to a single burial or mummy, ar- demic in most parts of the world (see Health, Healing, cheoparasitology shows how habits promote disease and Disease). They were significant threats in prehis- on an individual basis. tory, especially in cultures whose social complexity outstripped the development of effective sanitation, History and Major Themes hygiene, and germ theory awareness. Parasites are organisms that live in or on other or- Aidan Cockburn explored the origins of disease and ganisms called hosts. Parasites derive sustenance and generated interest in archeoparasitology. Cockburn shelter from their hosts and carry out reproduction in theorized that there was a relation between human host tissues and structures. There is a wide amount cultural development and the evolution of infectious of taxonomic diversity among parasites. They range diseases. In the first archeoparasitological study, Re- from single-celled protozoa, such as amoeba, to mul- inhard compared Colorado Plateau Archaic parasit- ticelled arthropods such as fleas. Strictly defined, par- ism to agricultural Puebloan sites. Reinhard verified asites do not include bacteria and viruses. However, Cockburn’s hypothesis that occasional hunter-gath- some epidemiologists refer to bacteria and viruses as erer infections became major agricultural health haz- microparasites. There are two general types of par- ards (Figure 1). The reasons for the emergence of par- asites: ectoparasites such as lice and endoparasites asitic disease were many. Parasitism was limited in such as intestinal worms. hunter-gatherer societies, called bands. Hunter-gath- All types of parasites can be found in archeological erer parasitism was limited by small band size, dif- sites. Protozoa can be identified by traces of antigens fuse regional populations, high band mobility, and 496 Reinhard and Araújo in Encyclopedia of Archaeology (2008) presence of natural anthelminthics in hunter-gatherer to control their parasite burden very effectively while diets.The one factor that could have promoted hunter- others were simply overwhelmed by their pathogens. gatherer parasitism was the consumption of uncooked This topic was explored by a comparison of pinworm vertebrate meat and insects. Parasitism was promoted (Enterobius vermicularis) prevalence in coprolites by in descendent agricultural Puebloan communities a group of specialists in pinworm disease. Pinworm by contaminated water sources, concentrated popu- was chosen as an indicator of general infectious dis- lations, more sedentary life, apartment-style living, ease because it is transferred from person to person absence of effective sanitation, activities centered on and by contamination of living quarters and food water (agriculture), and activities that expanded wet- (Figure 2). Some ancestral Pueblo communities were lands including irrigation of all types. extremely parasitized. In a clinical setting, only 5% of Reinhard recognized that the parasite variation be- feces from pinworm-infected people are positive for tween agricultural Puebloan villages nearly equaled pinworm eggs. The percentages of coprolites positive the variation between agriculturalists and hunter- for pinworm from several sites exceed this and range gatherers. This means that some settlements managed up to 29% (Figure 3). The lowest prevalence was found Archaeoparasitology 497 in small cave sites not containing walled villages. The heavy infections. In such populations, pinworm in- highest prevalence came from large, walled villages fection prevalence reflects serious health risks, when built in rock shelters (Figure 4). Hugot et al. concluded one considers that other pathogens are spread by the that poor air circulation in large populations living same means. Reinhard showed that the prevalence of in complex apartment-style communities resulted in parasitism co-varied with porotic hyperostosis prev- truly impressive levels of pinworm parasitism. In fact, alence at ancestral Pueblo sites where both coprolite some sites have the highest levels of pinworm infec- and skeletons were studied (Figure 5). Porotic hyper- tion recorded for ancient or modern peoples. ostosis is a general skeletal pathology indicator long The data indicate that pinworm parasitism was used to assess maternal-infant health.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Enhancing Archaeoparasitology By
    UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE DIGGING DEEPER: ENHANCING ARCHAEOPARASITOLOGY BY COMBINING MOLECULAR METHODS WITH TRADITIONAL MORPHOLOGICAL APPROACHES A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By LAUREN MARIE CLEELAND Norman, Oklahoma 2015 DIGGING DEEPER: ENHANCING ARCHAEOPARASITOLOGY BY COMBINING MOLECULAR METHODS WITH TRADITIONAL MORPHOLOGICAL APPROACHES A DISSERTATION APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY BY ______________________________ Dr. Cecil M. Lewis, Co-Chair ______________________________ Dr. Susan C. Vehik, Co-Chair ______________________________ Dr. Tassie Hirschfeld ______________________________ Dr. Patrick Livingood ______________________________ Dr. Paul Lawson © Copyright by LAUREN MARIE CLEELAND 2015 All Rights Reserved. I dedicate this dissertation to the memory of my husband, Peter Riley Cleeland (1966-2012). Acknowledgements I offer my deepest gratitude to the members of my committee, who have encouraged and supported me through the doctoral process. Especially, I thank Dr. Cecil Lewis and Dr. Susan Vehik for their guidance and the gift of their knowledge, and supporting me through the loss of my husband, which delayed this process. I thank Dr. Tassie Hirschfeld for her insight and direction in thinking about the modern implications of prehistoric parasite work. I thank Dr. Patrick Livingood for his wisdom and enthusiasm and his willingness to always discuss a variety of topics. I thank Dr. Paul Lawson for bringing a broader ecological consideration to the study of prehistoric parasitism. I thank the University of Oklahoma Graduate School for providing the opportunity for me to study and gain the experience I need to master the concepts that have culminated in this dissertation. I thank the Department of Anthropology for their support and guidance.
    [Show full text]
  • Part II - Parasite Remains Preserved in Various Materials and Techniques in Microscopy and Molecular Diagnosis 15
    Part II - Parasite Remains Preserved in Various Materials and Techniques in Microscopy and Molecular Diagnosis 15. Paleoparasitological Diagnosis Martín H. Fugassa SciELO Books / SciELO Livros / SciELO Libros FUGASSA, M.H. Paleoparasitological Diagnosis. In: FERREIRA, L.F., REINHARD, K.J., and ARAÚJO, A., ed. Foundations of Paleoparasitology [online]. Rio de Janeiro: Editora FIOCRUZ, 2014, pp. 223-254. ISBN: 978-85-7541-598-6. Available from: doi: 10.7476/9788575415986.0017. Also available in ePUB from: http://books.scielo.org/id/zngnn/epub/ferreira-9788575415986.epub. All the contents of this work, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Todo o conteúdo deste trabalho, exceto quando houver ressalva, é publicado sob a licença Creative Commons Atribição 4.0. Todo el contenido de esta obra, excepto donde se indique lo contrario, está bajo licencia de la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimento 4.0. Paleoparasitological Diagnosis 15 Paleoparasitological Diagnosis Martín H. Fugassa aleoparasitology emerged in the early 20th century using light microscopy studies. Although numerous tools have Pbeen added since then, light microscopy is still the most widely used method for paleoparasitological examination and study of microfossils. Paleoparasitology has made significant progress in nearly a hundred years, partly through the adoption and adaptation of methodologies developed in other fields such as clinical parasitology and biology molecular. However, the inherent difficulties of archaeological materials require on-going improvement of methods and the introduction of new ones. In the coming years, the extent to which paleoparasitology contributes to paleoecological and anthropological studies will depend largely on increasing the number of samples for examination.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasite Findings in Archeological Remains: a Paleogeographic View 20
    Part III - Parasite Findings in Archeological Remains: a paleogeographic view 20. The Findings in South America Luiz Fernando Ferreira Léa Camillo-Coura Martín H. Fugassa Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves Luciana Sianto Adauto Araújo SciELO Books / SciELO Livros / SciELO Libros FERREIRA, L.F., et al. The Findings in South America. In: FERREIRA, L.F., REINHARD, K.J., and ARAÚJO, A., ed. Foundations of Paleoparasitology [online]. Rio de Janeiro: Editora FIOCRUZ, 2014, pp. 307-339. ISBN: 978-85-7541-598-6. Available from: doi: 10.7476/9788575415986.0022. Also available in ePUB from: http://books.scielo.org/id/zngnn/epub/ferreira-9788575415986.epub. All the contents of this work, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Todo o conteúdo deste trabalho, exceto quando houver ressalva, é publicado sob a licença Creative Commons Atribição 4.0. Todo el contenido de esta obra, excepto donde se indique lo contrario, está bajo licencia de la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimento 4.0. The Findings in South America 305 The Findings in South America 20 The Findings in South America Luiz Fernando Ferreira • Léa Camillo-Coura • Martín H. Fugassa Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves • Luciana Sianto • Adauto Araújo n South America, paleoparasitology first developed with studies in Brazil, consolidating this new science that Ireconstructs past events in the parasite-host relationship. Many studies on parasites in South American archaeological material were conducted on human mummies from the Andes (Ferreira, Araújo & Confalonieri, 1988). However, interest also emerged in parasites of animals, with studies of coprolites found in archaeological layers as a key source of ancient climatic data (Araújo, Ferreira & Confalonieri, 1982).
    [Show full text]
  • (2019) Tracing Zoonotic Parasite Infections Throughout Human Evolution
    Unformatted version of the article: Ledger ML, Mitchell PD. (2019) Tracing zoonotic parasite infections throughout human evolution. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2786. Tracing Zoonotic Parasite Infections Throughout Human Evolution Marissa L. Ledger Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK [email protected] Piers D. Mitchell* Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, The Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street, Cambridge CB2 1QH, UK [email protected] *corresponding author Key Words: archaeoparasitology; helminths; hominin evolution; paleoparasitology; zoonoses 1 ABSTRACT Parasites are useful pathogens to explore human-animal interactions because they have diverse life cycles that often rely on both as hosts. Moreover, some species are not host specific and are transmitted between animals and humans. Today most emerging infections are zoonoses. Here, we take a specific look at the emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic parasites throughout hominin evolution and consider evolutionary, cultural, and ecological factors involved in this. We combine genetic studies focused on molecular phylogenetic reconstructions, most often using the ribosomal RNA gene unit and mitochondrial genes from modern parasites, archaeological evidence in the form of preserved parasite eggs and antigens in skeletal and mummified remains, and modern epidemiological data to explore parasite infections throughout hominin evolution. We point out the considerably ancient origins of some key zoonotic parasites and their long coevolutionary history with humans, and discuss factors contributing to the presence of many zoonotic parasites in the past and today including dietary preferences, urbanization, waste disposal, and the population density of both humans and domesticated animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Aardvark Archaeology 2004 Archaeological Investigations at Ilhavo Park (Cjae-53) Duckworth Street and Plymouth Road, St
    Provincial Archaeology Office July 8, 2020 Aardvark Archaeology 2004 Archaeological Investigations at Ilhavo Park (CjAe-53) Duckworth Street and Plymouth Road, St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador. 03.51 2004 Stage 1 HRA of the St. John’s Harbour Clean-Up. Part 1: Water Street, from Hutchings Street to Waldegrave Street. 2005 HRIA for the East Coast Hiking Trail Interpretation on the Mount, Renews, Newfoundland. 05.18 2005 Stage 1 HRIA of the Mortier Bay-North Atlantic Marine Service Centre, Powers Cove, NL. 05.53 2005 HRIA of the Murphy’s Cove Development Project. Collier Point, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. 05.60 2005 HRIA of the South Brook Park Site (DgBj-03). 05.58 (on CD) 2006 Archaeological Monitoring of the 2006 Ferryland Beach Stabilization. 06.01 2006 Stage 1 HROA of 331 Water Street, St. John’s, NL. 2006 Archaeological Assessment of the Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial Historic Site Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador. 06.50 2006 Beneath the Big Store: Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment of the Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial Historic Site Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador. 06.50.01 2007 HRIA of Berry Island, Point Leamington Newfoundland and Labrador. 07.21 2008 Archaeological Assessment of the Bridge House Property (DdAg-03) Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador. 08.11 Adams, W. P. & J. B. Shaw 1967 Studies of Ice Cover on Knob Lake, New Québec. Cahiers de géographie du Québec, 11(22), p. 88-96. Adney, Edwin Tappan & Howard I. Chapelle 1964 The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America. AECOM 2012 Stage 2 Historical Impact Assessment 2012 Strange Lake-Quest Rare Minerals Project Field Survey Results Update.
    [Show full text]
  • Archaeoparasitology
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Faculty Publications Anthropology, Department of 2008 Archaeoparasitology Karl J. Reinhard University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected] Adauto Araújo Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, and the Parasitology Commons Reinhard, Karl J. and Araújo, Adauto, "Archaeoparasitology" (2008). Anthropology Faculty Publications. 22. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub/22 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Encyclopedia of Archaeology, p. 494-501, ed. by Deborah M. Pearsall. ©2008, Elsevier, Academic Press, New York. Used by permission. Archaeoparasitology Karl J. Reinhard, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA ([email protected]) Adauto Araújo, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Glossary archeoparasitology The study of parasite evidence from ar- cheological sites. acanthocephalan Any of various worms in the phylum cestode Any of the parasitic flatworms of the class Ces- Acanthocephala, also called thorny-headed worms, living toidea, including the tapeworms, having a long, segmented, in intestines of vertebrates having a retractile proboscis cov- flat body equipped with a specialized organ of attachment ered with many hooked spines. at one end. anthelminthic A compound that affects and causes the ex- ectoparasite Parasites such as lice and flies that live on the pulsion of parasitic intestinal worms. body’s outer surface.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ROLE of MUMMY STUDIES in PALEOPARASITOLOGY Chungara, Revista De Antropología Chilena, Vol
    Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena ISSN: 0716-1182 [email protected] Universidad de Tarapacá Chile Araújo, Adauto; Reinhard, Karl J.; Ferreira, Luiz Fernando THE ROLE OF MUMMY STUDIES IN PALEOPARASITOLOGY Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena, vol. 32, núm. 1, enero, 2000, pp. 111-115 Universidad de Tarapacá Arica, Chile Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32614411018 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena Volumen 32, N° 1, 2000. Páginas 111-115 THE ROLE OF MUMMY STUDIES IN PALEOPARASITOLOGY Adauto Araújo*, Karl J. Reinhard**, Luiz Fernando Ferreira* Paleoparasitology has advance during the past decade to the status of a statistically based science focused on problems of disease ecology and geographic distribution of parasitism. For most of its development, paleoparasitology has focused on the analysis of coprolites and latrine sediments. During the past few years, mummies have been increasingly included in paleoparasitology studies. We evaluate in this paper the interpretive value of mummies relative to other sources of paleoparasitological data. Key words: Parasites, bioarchaeology, paleopathology. El estudio de la paleoparasitología ha logrado transformarse, en esta última década, en una ciencia basada en la estadística, enfocada a temas tales como la ecología de enfermedades y la distribución geográfica parasítica. Los primeros estudios se basaron en el análisis de coprolitos y sedimentos letrinos. Ultimamente, se ha incorporado restos humanos momificados en los estudios paleoparasitologicos.
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnosing Ancient Diphyllobothriasis from Chinchorro Mummies Karl Reinhard/+, Otto Urban*
    Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 98(Suppl. I): 191-193, 2003 191 Diagnosing Ancient Diphyllobothriasis from Chinchorro Mummies Karl Reinhard/+, Otto Urban* School of Natural Resource Sciences, 126 Bessey Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0368, USA *Veterinary Medical Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety & Inspection Service Technical Service Center, Omaha, NE 68102, USA Diphyllobothrium pacificum has been reported as a human parasite from coprolites and skeletons in Peru and Chile. Our analysis of Chinchorro mummies from Chile provides the oldest evidence of D. pacificum directly associated with human mummies. These mummies date between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. The basis for our diagnosis is presented. We find that the size of the eggs in the mummies is smaller than other discoveries of D. pacificum. We suggest that this is due to the peculiar circumstances of preservation of parasite eggs within mummies and the release of immature eggs into the intestinal tract as the tapeworms decompose after the death of the host. This information is important to consider when making diagnoses from mummies. Key words: Diphyllobothrium pacificum - archaeoparasitology - mummy In 1989, operculated eggs consistent with species of the sea lions as definitive hosts. Humans become infected Diphyllobothrium were found in intestinal contents of by eating poorly prepared fish with living cysts. Humans Chinchorro mummies from Chile (Reinhard & Aufderheide can not become infected by eating sea lion meat or vis- 1990). Since that time, this find has been cited in the cera. Baer et al. (1967) noted that it was likely that prehis- literature repeatedly (Arriaza 1995, 1998, Aufderheide & toric populations in coastal Peru were infected.
    [Show full text]
  • Archaeoparasitology of Chaco Canyon
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Theses Environmental Studies Program Spring 5-2011 Archaeoparasitology of Chaco Canyon Rachel Paseka University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/envstudtheses Part of the Environmental Health Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, Organismal Biological Physiology Commons, Parasitology Commons, and the Pathogenic Microbiology Commons Paseka, Rachel, "Archaeoparasitology of Chaco Canyon" (2011). Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Theses. 54. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/envstudtheses/54 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Environmental Studies Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Archaeoparasitology of Chaco Canyon Rachel Paseka Undergraduate Thesis Environmental Studies Program University of Nebraska-Lincoln Advisor: Dr. Karl Reinhard School of Natural Resources May 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS…………………………………………..………...………………... 3 ABSTRACT…………………………………………..………...……………………………….. 4 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………..………...………………. 5 METHODS……………………………………………………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Human Intestinal Parasites in the Past: New Findings and a Review Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves, Adauto Araújo/+, Luiz Fernando Ferreira
    Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 98(Suppl. I): 103-118, 2003 103 Human Intestinal Parasites in the Past: New Findings and a Review Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves, Adauto Araújo/+, Luiz Fernando Ferreira Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública-Fiocruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, 21041-210, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Almost all known human specific parasites have been found in ancient feces. A review of the paleoparasitological helminth and intestinal protozoa findings available in the literature is presented. We also report the new paleoparasitologic findings from the examination performed in samples collected in New and Old World archaeo- logical sites. New finds of ancylostomid, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichos- trongylus spp., Diphyllobothrium latum, Hymenolepis nana and Acantocephalan eggs are reported. According to the findings, it is probable that A. lumbricoides was originally a human parasite. Human ancylostomids, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, found in the New World in pre-Columbian times, have not been introduced into the Americas by land via Beringia. These parasites could not supported the cold climate of the region. Nomadic prehistoric humans that have crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to the Americas in the last glaciation, probably during generations, would have lost these parasites, which life cycles need warm temperatures in the soil to be transmitted from host to host. Alternative routes are discussed for human parasite introduction into the Americas. Key words: paleoparasitology - ancient diseases - helminths - protozoa - coprolites - mummies Parasites are organisms that found their ecological mains, mainly eggs and larvae, can be identified quite easily niche living in organisms of distint species, called hosts.
    [Show full text]
  • Pathoecology and the Future of Coprolite Studies in Bioarchaeology Karl J
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Karl Reinhard Papers/Publications Natural Resources, School of 2008 Pathoecology and the Future of Coprolite Studies in Bioarchaeology Karl J. Reinhard University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected] Vaughn M. Bryant Jr. Texas A & M University - College Station Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natresreinhard Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Environmental Public Health Commons, Other Public Health Commons, and the Parasitology Commons Reinhard, Karl J. and Bryant, Vaughn M. Jr., "Pathoecology and the Future of Coprolite Studies in Bioarchaeology" (2008). Karl Reinhard Papers/Publications. 48. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natresreinhard/48 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural Resources, School of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Karl Reinhard Papers/Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. r 12 • Pathoecology and the Future of Coprolite Studies In Bioarchaeology Karl J. Reinhard University of Nebraska, Lincoln Vaughn M. Bryant, Jr. TexasA&M University Coprolite Studies in Bioarchaeology (1963) and Martin and Sharrock (1964), but espe­ cially in the seventies and eighties, coprolites were Human coprolites currently provide an expand­ the fo cus of many interdisciplinary research theses ing array of information about the diet, health, and and dissertations (Aasen 1984; Bryant 1969; Clary ecology of prehistoric people in the Southwest, but 1983; Edwards 1990; Fry 1969; Hall 1969, 1972; for many years coprolites were not recognized or Kelso 1971, 1976; Napton 1970; Reinhard 1985a, preserved, or they were not considered important and 1988a; Sobolik 1988, 1991; Stiger 1977; Stock 1983; thus were not saved (Bryant and Dean 2006).
    [Show full text]
  • Duck Fleas As Evidence for Eiderdown Production on Archaeological Sites
    Duck fleas as evidence for eiderdown production on archaeological sites Véronique Forbes University of Aberdeen, School of Geosciences, Department of Archaeology, St Mary's Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, UK Telephone: + 44 (0) 1224 273701; Fax: + 44 (0) 1224 272331 Email: [email protected] Abstract: Eiderdown has long been an important resource for northern cultures in the past but is overlooked in archaeology. Down, presumed to be from Eider ducks, has only been identified from a handful of high-status burials in Scandinavia. In order to test whether an archaeoentomological indicator for eiderdown production could be established, a survey of insects from two eiderdown productions sites in Iceland was conducted. The results identified over 500 duck fleas Ceratophyllus garei Rothschild and several beetle species from raw eiderdown and processing residue, as well as from pitfall traps placed in the floor of buildings where the down was stored and processed. It is argued that despite the fact that bird fleas parasitic on Eider ducks are not host-specific, their life history and microhabitat requirements, as well as the method employed to collect eiderdown, makes duck fleas a reliable indicator for eiderdown harvesting in archaeology. Highlights: - The importance of eiderdown as a trade and prestige item in northern Europe is discussed. - Results of a survey of modern insects from eiderdown production sites are presented. - Duck fleas are recognized as reliable indicators of eiderdown production. Keywords: archaeoentomology; archaeoparasitology; eiderdown; Eider ducks; bird fleas; trade 1. Introduction Eiderdown has long been an important resource for many northern cultures. The down was a prestige item, used in the past (not unlike today) to fill luxury quilts, pillows and outdoor clothing.
    [Show full text]