Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ISSN: 0103-846X [email protected] Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária Brasil Chaves da Rocha, Gino; Serra-Freire, Nicolau Maués Paleoparasitology at “Place d’Armes”, Namur, Belgium: a biostatistics analysis of trichurid eggs between the Old and New World Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, vol. 18, núm. 3, julio-septiembre, 2009, pp. 70-74 Colégio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinária Jaboticabal, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=397841472013 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 doi:10.4322/rbpv.01803013 Research Note Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet., Jaboticabal, v. 18, n. 3, p. 70-74, jul.-set. 2009 ISSN 1984-2961 (eletrônico) Paleoparasitology at “Place d’Armes”, Namur, Belgium: a biostatistics analysis of trichurid eggs between the Old and New World Paleoparasitologia na “Praça das Armas”, Namur, Bélgica: uma análise bioestatística de ovos de tricurídeos entre o Velho e o Novo Mundo Gino Chaves da Rocha1*; Nicolau Maués Serra-Freire2 1Programa de Pós Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade do Planalto Catarinense – UNIPLAC 2Laboratório de Ixodides, Referência Nacional para Vetores de Riquétsias, Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ Received November 5, 2008 Accepted January 15, 2009 Abstract Paleoparasitological findings about human occupation and their domestic animals, from Gallo-Roman period up to recent times, were described at the archaeological site of “Place d’Armes”, Namur, Belgium, by preventive archaeological excavations. Organic sediment samples from cesspools, latrines and structures-like were analyzed and revealed intestinal parasite eggs (helminthes) in all of the different archaeological contexts. The parasitic association Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp. was found although it is not easy to determinate the specific parasite species. Trichurids were described in both New and Old Worlds since the prehistorical time. To elucidate the zoological origin of the organic remains, the parasites and the prior function of the sanitary structures Trichuris eggs were statistically analyzed for morphometric parameters, and suggest that it could be an important tool to help the whole paleoparasitological diagnosis. Keywords: Paleoparasitology, Trichuris sp., ancient helmintic diseases, eggs. Resumo Achados paleoparasitológicos sobre a ocupação humana e seus animais domésticos, desde o período Galo-Romano até períodos recentes, foram registrados no sitio arqueológico da “Praça das Armas”, em Namur, Bélgica, através de excavações de salvamento arqueológico. Amostras de sedimentos orgânicos coletados de fossas, latrinas e estruturas semelhantes foram analisadas e revelaram ovos de helmintos intestinais, em todos os diferentes contextos arqueológicos. A associação parasitária Ascaris sp. e Trichuris sp. foi encontrada, sem identificação de espécie. Tricurídeos foram descritos em ambos, Novo e Velho Mundo, desde tempos pré-históricos. Para contribuir na elucidação da origem zoological dos vestígios orgânicos, dos parasitos e a função primárias das estruturas sanitárias, ovos de Trichuris foram analisados estatisticamente através dos seus parâmetros morfométricos, e sugerem que esta pode ser uma importante ferramenta para o diagnóstico paleoparasitológico. Palavras-chave: Paleoparasitologia, Trichuris sp., helmintoses do passado, ovos. The paleoparasitological inferences allow understanding the domestication are considered since prehistoric times using a existence, the introduction and dispersion of parasites and its paleoparasitological approach. Parasites and its biological forms infections throughout the ancient human and animal populations. can be found in all sorts of archaeological organic material (PIKE, The goal is to establish the evolution and behavior of parasitic 1967; FERREIRA et al., 1987, 1988; BOUCHET et al., 2003a). diseases over time (ALLISON et al., 1974; ARAÚJO; FERREIRA, In this sense, one can consider parasites as biological markers. 1997; ARAÚJO et al., 2003a). Thus, human migratory routes, Their presence, in some archaeological contexts, could indicate inter population contacts, transhumance, predation of wild that there was a kind of parasitic association, specific or not, animals, exploitation of animal resources, relationship and animal as a direct product of an interaction between humans and the environment and even with animals, as an ecological dynamic *Corresponding author: Gino Chaves da Rocha relation (ARAÚJO; FERREIRA, 1997; ARAÚJO et al., 2003b; Programa de Pós Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, ROCHA, 2003; BOUCHET et al., 2003a). Universidade do Planalto Catarinense – UNIPLAC, Human occupation, from Gallo-Roman period Av. Castelo Branco, 170, Universitário, CEP 88509-900 Lages - SC, Brasil, nd rd Tel.(Fax): +55 21 2560-8217; e-mail: [email protected] (2 and 3 centuries), the Middle Ages up to recent times Supported by: CNPq and CAPES/COFECUB (19th century), across seven historical strata, was recorded in www.cbpv.com.br/rbpv v. 18, n. 3, jul.-set. 2009 Paleoparasitology at “Place d’Armes”, Namur, Belgium 71 the archaeological site of “Place d’Armes”, Namur, Belgium, The paleoparasitological findings are presented in Table 1 that by preventive archaeological excavations (PLUMIER; MEES; describes archaeological structures, their respective sediment samples, VANMECHELEN, 1997). Organic sediment samples from the historical periods and parasite findings at “Place d’Armes” site. cesspools, latrines and structures-like were analyzed and revealed The morphometric analysis of trichurid eggs showed values ranging intestinal parasite eggs (helminthes) in all the different archaeological in width (23.31 to 29.97 μm) and lenght (46.62 to 59.94 μm), contexts. To identify the zoological origin of the organic remains as showed in Table 2. The values found by Confalonieri (1983) and parasites, whether they belonged to humans or other animals, are present in the same table for comparison. the results were compared with the archaeologists’ suppositions, All measurements had variance/mean relationship values more specifically to understand how those structures were utilized. lower than one (<1) indicating that data are randomly distributed Thus, archaeological and paleoparasitological approaches are around the mean. Thus, it is considered as a normal distribution associated to recreate behaviors and health conditions of the and the type of kurtosis (based on the size of distribution tails) is settlement over time (ROCHA, 2003; ROCHA et al., 2006). leptokurtic (large tails). The sample size estimated, according to Rojas (1964), indicated that all samples studied could be smaller From the archaeological complex of the Place d’Armes settlement, than previously arbitrated. this study drew paleoparasitological inferences, using a statistical approach, to compare egg measurements between the Old and New World trichurids. About trichurid samples Thirty-four sediment samples were collected from the archaeological structures of the Place d’Armes site, comprising Sample 02.007 and 02.169 – Thet -test is statistically significant 21 latrines (≅ [62] 61.8%), five pits (≅ [15] 14.7%) and other eight for both minor and major diameters, (“t” calc = 0.84 and 0.61, structures including pits, barrels and canalizations (≅ [23] 23.5%). respectively, Sample 02.007; “t” calc = 2.73 Sample 02.169) meaning The samples were processed according to Bouchet et al. (1999) that trichurids are not different from Confalonieri population. protocol. This procedure made possible to separate hard concretions Sample 04.443 and 04.424 – The result of the t-test is that were attached to the helminth eggs in the sediments. statistically significant (“t” calc = 4.38 and 2,96, respectively) for the Identification criteria of helminth eggs were based on size, shape, minor diameter, but not statistically significant (“t” calc = 0.32 and characteristics of the eggshell ornamentation, the presence or not of the 0,83, respectively) for the major diameter. In this situation, where operculum and polar plugs (ROCHA, 2003; ROCHA et al., 2006). at least one mean diameter differs significantly, the final conclusion Of a total of 16 samples with high concentration of trichurid eggs is that the sample does not belong to T. trichiura species. (over 50 eggs per slide) seven were randomly selected for statistical Sample 04.453 and 04.269 – Thet -test is statistically significant analysis (Table 1) to differentiate and establish the probable zoological (“t” calc = 3.99) for the minor diameter so these eggs do not belong origin of the organic sediment. Twenty slides of each sample were to T. trichiura species. Sample 04.011 – Thet -test is also statistically analyzed following standard procedures (ARAÚJO et al., 1998). significant (“t” calc = 3.05) for the minor diameter. The fact that Only well-preserved eggs (intact egg shape and shell) of Trichuris there is at least one significant difference in a diameter is sufficient sp. were measured in their minor (width) and major (length, polar to reject the null hypothesis and it can be concluded that these plug to polar plug) diameters. A micrometric scale was used, under Trichuris eggs do not belong to Confalonieri population. optical microscopy, utilizing