First paleoparasitological record of digenean eggs from a native deer from Patagonia Argentina (Cueva Parque Diana archaeological site)

Abstract

Eggs representative of a digenean species were found in coprolites belonged to an endemic deer from Patagonia. Samples were collected from the archaeological site named “Cueva Parque Diana”. This site is a cave located at the Lanín National Park, Neuquén Province, Argentina. The coprolites were dated from 2370 ± 70 to 580 ± 60 years B.P. The eggs were ellipsoidal, operculated, yellowish and thin-shelled. Measurements (n = 65) ranged from 120.0 to 142.5 (133.2 ± 6.53) μm long and 62.5 to 87.5 (72.6 ± 6.15) μm wide. Eggs were well-preserved and were identified as belonged to Class Trematoda, Subclass Digenea, similar to those of Fasciola hepatica or with another species not identified at present from Patagonia. This is the first report of digenean eggs from ancient deer worldwide. The present study confirms the presence of representatives of digenean species in endemic deer from Patagonia in ancient times and the presence of a trematode disease prior to the arrival of European cattle.