Trichurid nematodes from South American Camelid: an approach to native assemblages through the parasitology of archaeological sites

Abstract

Togain insights into the trichurid diversity in pre-Hispanic remains of SouthAmerican camelids (SACs), as well as in modern SAC populations, a bibliographicsearch was carried out to find parasitological studies. Results showed a totalof 17 studies performed in archaeological and paleontological sites, which hadexamined a total of 213 samples. The sample set was used as the unit ofanalysis, and 83% of 52 pre-Hispanic sample sets were positive for parasites.Parasitological researches confirmed the pre-Hispanic presence of diversetrichurids: two Trichuris species,and capillariid eggs with morphological differences that allowed them to beassigned to three different species. Currently, the richness of the native trichuridassemblages in SACs has been extended by the inclusion of two species (Trichuris sp. 2 and Capillariinae gen.sp. 1). Modern T. tenuis Chandler, 1930, considered SACspecific, would have invaded SAC populations during the European colonization.The estimate of regional and temporal trichurid prevalence and paleoecologicalinformation allowed us to propose a possible origin for some of them. Althoughthe present analysis is exploratory, it should stimulate future researchesabout the biogeographic history of SAC helminths, relevant information toimprove descriptions of the Holocene ecology and identify threatened helminths.