Primer registro paleoparasitológico de Trichuris SP (nematoda, capilariidae) en muestras asociadas a restos humanos del Holoceno tardío de Patagonia septentrional

En el marco de los estudios paleoepidemiológicos que se realizan en restos arqueológicos asignados a poblaciones de cazadores-recolectores de Patagonia, este trabajo presenta información novedosa acerca de la presencia de parásitos en muestras de sedimento de las cavidades pélvicas correspondientes a individuos que habitaron la costa norte de Patagonia durante el Holoceno Tardío. Fueron analizados 3 casos de diferente cronología y en dos de ellos, los de menor antigüedad relativa, los resultados fueron positivos para la presencia de Trichuris trichiura. Es interesante mencionar al respecto que para el período que involucra a los dos casos positivos, la información arqueológica registra un proceso de intensificación en el que se explota una mayor diversidad de fauna y se incrementan los artefactos de molienda en los sitios. Entre las posibles causas propuestas para este proceso se encuentran el aumento demográfico y/o el nucleamiento poblacional en espacios favorables que comienzan a saturarse, hecho consistente con la evidencia cultural obtenida al momento y con la presencia de Trichuris sp.In the framework of paleoepidemiologic studies carried out on archaeological human remains assigned to hunter-gatherer populations from Patagonia, this work offers original information about the presence of parasites in sediments of the pelvic cavity belonging to individuals who inhabited the northern coast of Patagonia during the Late Holocene. Three cases with different chronology were analyzed. The results were positive regarding the presence of Trichuris trichiura for the two more recent cases. It is interesting to mention that during the period involved by the both positive cases, the archaeological record showed a process of intensification in food procurement, evidenced by a diversification of the fauna exploited at the sites as well as the increasing use of grinding tools. One possible explanation proposed for this process is the demographic growth and/or the population density in the coastal favorable spaces that begin to be saturated. This fact is consistent with the cultural evidence obtained at the moment, and with the presence of Trichuris sp for this period.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

A parasitological paradox: Why is ascarid infection so rare in the prehistoric Americas?

Ascaris lumbricoides (giant roundworm) and Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) are the most common intestinal parasites found in humans worldwide today and they almost always co-occur. However, we find two distinct patterns in archae­ological material. In historical North American and Old World contexts, the association of A. lumbricoides and T. trich­iura is similar to the modern epidemiological picture. In contrast, the co-occurrence of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura eggs in prehistoric South America is rare. For prehistoric contexts, T. trichiura is the most common parasite found in ar­chaeological material. Recently molecular biology techniques pointed to a subdiagnosis of roundworm infection in pre- Columbian South American populations. This is contrary to the modern epidemiological picture in which A. lumbricoi­des infection is predominant. This is a paradox, especially when one considers the number of eggs laid by female daily, 200,000 and 20,000 thousand per day, for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura respectively. By reviewing the records of these parasites, this paradox is presented and explanations for the paradox are explored. Taphonomy, prehistoric behavior patterns and medicinal plant use seem to be most relevant to the explanation of the paradox. Nematophagous fungi is a less likely factor creating the near absence of A. lumbricoides eggs in the prehistoric New World

Primer registro paleoparasitológico de Trichuris SP (nematoda, capilariidae) en muestras asociadas a restos humanos del Holoceno tardío de Patagonia septentrional

En el marco de los estudios paleoepidemiológicos que se realizan en restos arqueológicos asignados a poblaciones de cazadores-recolectores de Patagonia, este trabajo presenta información novedosa acerca de la presencia de parásitos en muestras de sedimento de las cavidades pélvicas correspondientes a individuos que habitaron la costa norte de Patagonia durante el Holoceno Tardío. Fueron analizados 3 casos de diferente cronología y en dos de ellos, los de menor antigüedad relativa, los resultados fueron positivos para la presencia de Trichuris trichiura. Es interesante mencionar al respecto que para el período que involucra a los dos casos positivos, la información arqueológica registra un proceso de intensificación en el que se explota una mayor diversidad de fauna y se incrementan los artefactos de molienda en los sitios. Entre las posibles causas propuestas para este proceso se encuentran el aumento demográfico y/o el nucleamiento poblacional en espacios favorables que comienzan a saturarse, hecho consistente con la evidencia cultural obtenida al momento y con la presencia de Trichuris sp.In the framework of paleoepidemiologic studies carried out on archaeological human remains assigned to hunter-gatherer populations from Patagonia, this work offers original information about the presence of parasites in sediments of the pelvic cavity belonging to individuals who inhabited the northern coast of Patagonia during the Late Holocene. Three cases with different chronology were analyzed. The results were positive regarding the presence of Trichuris trichiura for the two more recent cases. It is interesting to mention that during the period involved by the both positive cases, the archaeological record showed a process of intensification in food procurement, evidenced by a diversification of the fauna exploited at the sites as well as the increasing use of grinding tools. One possible explanation proposed for this process is the demographic growth and/or the population density in the coastal favorable spaces that begin to be saturated. This fact is consistent with the cultural evidence obtained at the moment, and with the presence of Trichuris sp for this period.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

A parasitological paradox: Why is ascarid infection so rare in the prehistoric Americas?

Ascaris lumbricoides (giant roundworm) and Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) are the most common intestinal parasites found in humans worldwide today and they almost always co-occur. However, we find two distinct patterns in archae­ological material. In historical North American and Old World contexts, the association of A. lumbricoides and T. trich­iura is similar to the modern epidemiological picture. In contrast, the co-occurrence of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura eggs in prehistoric South America is rare. For prehistoric contexts, T. trichiura is the most common parasite found in ar­chaeological material. Recently molecular biology techniques pointed to a subdiagnosis of roundworm infection in pre- Columbian South American populations. This is contrary to the modern epidemiological picture in which A. lumbricoi­des infection is predominant. This is a paradox, especially when one considers the number of eggs laid by female daily, 200,000 and 20,000 thousand per day, for A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura respectively. By reviewing the records of these parasites, this paradox is presented and explanations for the paradox are explored. Taphonomy, prehistoric behavior patterns and medicinal plant use seem to be most relevant to the explanation of the paradox. Nematophagous fungi is a less likely factor creating the near absence of A. lumbricoides eggs in the prehistoric New World