Herbivore coprolites from the South-Central Andes. A multiproxy study at Los Viscos Archaeological Site, Catamarca, Argentina

Petrigh, Romina Sandra; Velázquez, Nadia Jimena; Fugassa, Martín Horacio; Burry, Lídia Susana; Mondini, Mariana; Korstanje, M. Alejandra

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103063

Cited by 14 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The coprolites studied in the present work have strong similarities to those of deer, goat and camelid previously described from archeological and paleontological sites from the southern cone of South America (e.g. Beltrame et al, 2017;Petrigh et al, 2021;Tietze et al, 2021). This suggests that it is necessary to apply different methodological tools to identify the correct host origin of the coprolites.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Nowadays, the additional benefits of combining paleogenetic studies with traditional microscopic studies are well known (e.g. Côté and Le Bailly, 2018;Kévin et al, 2021;Petrigh et al, 2021;Welker et al, 2014;Wood et al, 2013Wood et al, , 2019. However, so far, the molecular approach has not been used in the diagnosis of coccidian species from ancient samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paleogenetic and microscopic studies of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) as a tool to reveal the zoological origin of coprolites: The case of study of artiodactyl coprolites from an archeological site from Patagonia, Argentina

et al. 2022

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Coprolites are one of the sources of evidence most commonly used in paleoparasitological studies. However, the zoological origin identification is not always possible. Parasites of the genus Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are obligate protozoan which have evolved to exhibit a great diversity of host range, and present strict host specificity. Usually, the identification of Eimeria spp. can be done by morphological characteristics such as size and shape of the oocysts. Moreover, molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR have proven to be very useful methodologies for an accurate taxonomic identification. In recent years, molecular techniques have started to be applied in paleoparasitological studies. Here, we provide the first integrative approach that combine light microscopic studies and ancient DNA (aDNA) in order to detect and identify Eimeria spp. on artiodactyl coprolites recovered from an archeological context from northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. The main objective is to discuss the advantages of complementing these two approaches as a promising tool to identify the zoological origin of coprolites. Furthermore, we provide paleoparasitological data about the presence of Eimeria spp. in coprolites of South American ungulates. Light microscopic studies allowed the identification of oocysts attributed to Eimeria spp. in 13 of the 40 coprolites. Amplification and sequencing of the aDNA ITS1 detected the presence of Eimeria spp. in 5 of the 10 samples, and allowed the taxonomic identification of these sequences as belonging to Eimeria arloingi. Furthermore, the results obtained from cytochrome b gene (Cytb) analysis confirmed the identity of the host as Capra hircus. Results displayed the presence of coccidiosis in goats from historical times. This study highlights that both techniques are complementary and promotes the use of the identification of Eimeria spp. in ancient samples in order to identify the zoological origin.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleogenetic and microscopic studies of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) as a tool to reveal the zoological origin of coprolites: The case of study of artiodactyl coprolites from an archeological site from Patagonia, Argentina

et al. 2022

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“…The distinction between these species is very difficult based only on egg morphology and morphometry; therefore, the molineids recovered could be any of these species. These nematodes are also highly specific for SAC and have been previously found in coprolites of these animals from both the Puna and the Patagonia in Argentina (Fugassa, 2007; Petrigh et al, 2021; Taglioretti et al, 2015, 2017; Tietze et al, 2021), as well as in carnivores suggesting they consumed camelid viscera (Beltrame et al, 2019; Fugassa et al, 2009; Fugassa & Petrigh, 2017). These molineids are usually found in extant camelids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Trichuris species infect a wide range of mammals worldwide and have a direct life cycle, including passage of eggs through the soil, which under specific environmental conditions will favor the development of the infective larva (Acha & Szyfres, 2003). This is one of the most frequently reported nematode in paleoparasitological records (Ferreira et al, 2014; Mitchell, 2015), including SAC coprolites (Amalfitano et al, 2018; Le Bailly et al, 2020; Leguía et al, 1995; Petrigh et al, 2021; Taglioretti et al, 2017; Tietze et al, 2021). Here, Trichuris sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Gastrointestinal parasites in ancient South American camelid feces from the Atacama Desert (Pampa del Tamarugal, Tarapacá, northern Chile)

Ramirez

Herrera-Soto

Andreu³

et al. 2023

Archaeometry

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Faunal remains from archeological sites worldwide, especially feces and regurgitated pellets, are usually subjected to paleoparasitological examination, allowing the identification of past animal parasites. In this study, we analyzed 10 samples of South American camelid dung, which played an important role for the ancient human groups in the South‐Central Andes, dated between 341 and 1635 calCE, from the Iluga Túmulos site (Pampa del Tamarugal, Tarapacá region, Atacama Desert, Chile). Microscopy examination revealed parasite remains in seven samples, in which oocysts of Eimeria macusaniensis and eggs of Lamanema chavezi/Nematodirus lamae, Trichuris sp., Moniezia sp., capillariids, strongylids, and unidentified nematodes were found. Although some of these species pose a potential health risk to camelids, most are not considered to be of major zoonotic importance, which could explain the absence of these parasites on human coprolites from this site analyzed previously. This first paleoparasitological study on camelid fecal remains from northern Chile sheds light on the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites and its relationship with Andean ancient human populations and the environment.

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“…(e.g. Taglioretti et al, 2017 ; Petrigh et al, 2021 ; Tietze et al, 2021 ). If we are to make predictions of changes in host–parasite interactions due to, for example, climate or land use change, or to introduction of exotic species, it is necessary to have an exhaustive knowledge of the parasitic diversity of SAC throughout the time and throughout their entire distribution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gastrointestinal parasite diversity of South American camelids (Artiodactyla: Camelidae): First review throughout the native range of distribution

Cañal

Beltrame

2022

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Herbivore coprolites from the South-Central Andes. A multiproxy study at Los Viscos Archaeological Site, Catamarca, Argentina

Cited by 14 publications

References 42 publications

Paleogenetic and microscopic studies of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) as a tool to reveal the zoological origin of coprolites: The case of study of artiodactyl coprolites from an archeological site from Patagonia, Argentina

Paleogenetic and microscopic studies of Eimeria spp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) as a tool to reveal the zoological origin of coprolites: The case of study of artiodactyl coprolites from an archeological site from Patagonia, Argentina

Gastrointestinal parasites in ancient South American camelid feces from the Atacama Desert (Pampa del Tamarugal, Tarapacá, northern Chile)

Gastrointestinal parasite diversity of South American camelids (Artiodactyla: Camelidae): First review throughout the native range of distribution

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