Artículo
The effects of dehydration and local soil on parasite recovery: A preliminary paleoparasitological evaluation on experimental coprolites
Fecha de publicación:
10/2021
Editorial:
Sage Publications Ltd
Revista:
Holocene (Seven Oaks)
ISSN:
0959-6836
Idioma:
Inglés
Tipo de recurso:
Artículo publicado
Clasificación temática:
Resumen
Experimental paleoparasitological approaches have been used in order to optimize the methodology previously to the application in archeological samples. In this study we evaluated the action of dehydration and local soil (Central Argentina) on the loss of parasite eggs in experimental coprolites, using two parasitological techniques: spontaneous sedimentation and sucrose-flotation. Experimental coprolites comprised fresh human feces, positive for Hymenolepis nana, Ascaris sp., and Enterobius vermicularis, submitted to controlled artificial dehydration. Experimental coprolites with soil addition were prepared by mixing archeological sediment with equal mass of fresh feces. Helminth eggs were counted and eggs per gram were estimated in each subsample. Statistical analyses were applied to compare subsamples before and after desiccation and with and without addition of soil sediment. The performance of parasitological methods statistically differed, the sucrose flotation technique being the less effective when fresh feces and experimental coprolites were analyzed. Partial deformation of eggs was observed via both techniques only in subsamples containing H. nana eggs. However, this was not seen in Ascaris sp. subsamples, possibly due to eggshell composition. We found that sample desiccation significantly decreased the number of eggs in the experimental coprolites. Mixing archeological sediment with the fecal material also resulted in significantly fewer eggs surviving, independent of desiccation. This shows that climate and soil in which archeological fecal samples are found can strongly influence the survival of parasite eggs from past populations. The small amount of parasite evidence often found in paleoparasitological analyses, including Central Argentina, could be attributed to the action of taphonomic processes rather than to the real absence of infection in these ancient populations. Importantly, the study highlights the role of local soil, confirmed for the first time by empirical data. The research provides valuable insights into the understanding of the paleoparasitological results of the region and of general paleoparasitology.
Palabras clave:
COPROLITES
,
HELMINTH EGGS
,
PARASITE LOAD
,
PARASITE PRESERVATION
,
SEDIMENT
,
TAPHONOMY
Archivos asociados
Licencia
Identificadores
Colecciones
Articulos(IDACOR)
Articulos de INSTITUTO DE ANTROPOLOGIA DE CORDOBA
Articulos de INSTITUTO DE ANTROPOLOGIA DE CORDOBA
Citación
Ramirez, Darío Alejandro; Fabra, Mariana; Xavier, Samanta; Mayo Iñiguez, Alena; The effects of dehydration and local soil on parasite recovery: A preliminary paleoparasitological evaluation on experimental coprolites; Sage Publications Ltd; Holocene (Seven Oaks); 32; 1-2; 10-2021; 88-93
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