Identification of parasitoses in a child burial from Adak Island (Central Aleutian Islands, Alaska)

SuMMaRYThe authors present a review of records of intestinal parasitic helminths from animals in human archaeological remains, reported since the emergence of paleopathological studies. The objective was to relate paleoparasitological findings to geographic, biotic, and abiotic factors from the environment in which the prehistoric populations lived, and understand some aspects related to the process of human dispersion and biological and cultural evolution. Modification of eating habits and the incorporation of new cultural practices are analyzed from the perspective of zoonoses from prehistory to the present day, especially in Brazilian indigenous populations. Three tables identifying the helminths, their natural hosts, dates, and sites of archaeological findings complete this review. In conclusion, various zoonoses known today have occurred since antiquity, and these data, combined with studies on the emergence and reemergence of diseases, could make possible to compose scenarios for the future.

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“…In addition to the findings cited above, BOUCHET et al 17,20 found eggs from genus Diphyllobothrium in samples from Alaska.…”

Section: North and Central Americamentioning

confidence: 72%

Animal helminths in human archaeological remains: a review of zoonoses in the past

Sianto

Chame

Silva

et al. 2009

Rev. Inst. Med. trop. S. Paulo

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The material was placed on a slide that was covered with a coverslip and examined for evidence of parasites and food remains. Twenty slides of each sample were examined at magnification of ×100 and ×400 (Bouchet et al 2001).For the ELISA tests, the E. histolytica II and the Giardia II assay (TechLab, Blackburg, VA, US) were used. Sample preparation was quite different to provide physicochemical parameter modifications, especially due to formalin (Hould 1984, Exbrayat 2000.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasitism in Kansas in the 1800s: a glimpse to the past through the analysis of grave sediments from Meadowlark cemetery

Bailly

Gonçalves

Lefèvre

et al. 2006

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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During the excavations of the XIX century Meadowlark cemetery (Manhattan, Kansas, US) Scientists have been using different techniques to look for parasites in ancient material (Reinhard et al. 1987, Araujo et al. 1998). Coprolites or desiccated feces, or fecal remains mixed with soil sediment are commonly found in archaeological excavations. The parasitological analysis of such material yields rich information about paleopathologies, human migrations, cultural changes, dietary habits, paleoclimates, parasite dispersion, and host migrations throughout space and time (Reinhard et al 2001, Gonçalves et al. 2003. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe analyzed sediments were collected during the excavation of the Meadowlark Cemetery, on the grounds of Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan, Kansas. This cemetery was used during the period ca. 1860 to 1900. It was excavated during the summer and early fall of 2004 to make way for construction of new residences on the retirement community property. A total of 17 graves were revealed. Thirteen of these graves contained skeletons. Sediment samples from the abdominal region of five skeletons were studied: MC F9, F10, F12, F13, and F17 (Table).The material was submitted to the standard paleoparasitological examination using an optical microscope to search for helminth eggs. A commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies was used to test for antigen from Entamoeba histolytica (Haque et al. 1995(Haque et al. , 2000 and Giardia duodenalis (Aldeen et al. 1998, Boone et al. 1999, two common intestinal protozoan parasites.For the standard paleoparasitological examination, the samples were rehydrated for a week in 0.5% trisodic phosphate and 5% glycerinated solution. The material was then crushed in a mortar. The suspension was submitted to an ultrasound device for 1 min at 50°C, on a frequency of 35 kHz, and the suspension strained through 315-µm, 160-µm, 50-µm, and 25-µm meshes. A portion of each sample was used for microscopic examination. The material was placed on a slide that was covered with a coverslip and examined for evidence of parasites and food remains. Twenty slides of each sample were examined at magnification of ×100 and ×400 (Bouchet et al. 2001).For the ELISA tests, the E. histolytica II and the Giardia II assay (TechLab, Blackburg, VA, US) were used. Sample preparation was quite different to provide physicochemical parameter modifications, especially due to formalin (Hould 1984, Exbrayat 2000. The samples were rehydrated for one week in ultra-pure water obtained from a purification system manufactured by Millipore ® (Direct-Q TM 5). Samples were preserved in the freezer (2-4°C) during the rehydration phase to avoid bacteria and fungi development. Manufacturer's directions were followed and results were interpreted by visual inspection and using a spectrophotometer. A test sample was considered positive if it had an obvious yellow color when compared to the negative control well. A test sample was considered negativ...

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“…Therefore, associated with calibrated dating and well archaeologically and geographically located, skeletons allow obtaining data to associate parasite findings with the human host. Population studies may be approached as far as more skeletons are analyzed.Sediments have been analyzed with paleoparasitological techniques, modified from Stoll technique (Jones 1988, Taek Han et al 2003, spontaneous sedimentations (Faulkner et al 2000, Fernandes et al 2005, sedimentation-flotation (Bouchet 1995, Bouchet et al 1999, 2001, and combining sedimentation and palynological technique (Reinhard et al 1992, Dittmar & Teejen 2003. To understand and interpret correctly parasite finds in sediments of each locality of an archaeological site careful analysis is needed (Reinhard 1988).…”

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confidence: 99%

Quantitative paleoparasitology applied to archaeological sediments

Fugassa

Araújo

Guichón

2006

Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz

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Life in the past can be reconstructed by applying different tools of science to understand ancient events. Combined, these tools offer well sustainable data to base and test hypothesis as they are obtained from different fields of science (Walker 1996). The study of bioanthropology in Southern Patagonia has the contribution of History, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Biology. Paleoparasitology emerged as a branch of Paleopathology and aims the study of parasites found in archaeological and paleontological material. Parasites have been found in coprolites, latrine sediments, mummified tissues, hairs, and many other organic remains (Bouchet et al. 2003a). Sediment associated with skeletons has been less explored than other organic remains in the search for parasites. Latrine and soil sediment recovered from latrines and soil occupied by ancient human populations are the most common examined and studied material (Pike 1968, Moore 1981, Bouchet 1995, Bouchet et al. 1999, 2002, Taek Han et al. 2003, Fernandes et al. 2005; shell middens (Bathurst 2005), artifacts (Harter et al. 2003), and skeleton remains (Aspöck et al. 1996, Bouchet et al. 2001, Dittmar & Teejen 2003 are less studied. Parasite remains are supposed to disperse and be lost in sediments. This is the case of Patagonian steppe sandy sediments submitted to hydric and thermal environmental conditions influencing parasite egg preservation in the soil.Otherwise, sediment collected inside skeletons may offer opportunities to assay paleoepidemiological studies. Skeletons are more commonly found than coprolites, and sex and age can be more easily inferred. Therefore, associated with calibrated dating and well archaeologically and geographically located, skeletons allow obtaining data to associate parasite findings with the human host. Population studies may be approached as far as more skeletons are analyzed.Sediments have been analyzed with paleoparasitological techniques, modified from Stoll technique (Jones 1988, Taek Han et al. 2003, spontaneous sedimentations (Faulkner et al. 2000, Fernandes et al. 2005, sedimentation-flotation (Bouchet 1995, Bouchet et al. 1999, 2001, and combining sedimentation and palynological technique (Reinhard et al. 1992, Dittmar & Teejen 2003. To understand and interpret correctly parasite finds in sediments of each locality of an archaeological site careful analysis is needed (Reinhard 1988). Even though, to better understand the meaning of parasite finds in archaeological sites frequencies must be achieved comparing parasite finds. Therefore, the study of parasites in archaeological sediments requires the use of quantitative techniques to compare the findings of parasites in different samples and controls.We strongly reinforce that this kind of archaeological deposit is very important and the data obtained can be improved combining careful sediment in situ extraction method with quantitative paleoparasitological techniques adapted to this kind of material. We have tested techniques used and recommend a slight modification that im...

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Identification of parasitoses in a child burial from Adak Island (Central Aleutian Islands, Alaska)

Abstract: Bothriocephalid (Diphyllobothrium pacificum) and Ascarid (Ascaris lumbricoides) eggs have been identified in a sample taken in the abdominal cavity of a child skeleton found in Zeto Point (ADK-011), an archaeological site on Adak Island in the Central Aleutian Islands (Alaska).

Cited by 43 publications

References 21 publications

Animal helminths in human archaeological remains: a review of zoonoses in the past

Animal helminths in human archaeological remains: a review of zoonoses in the past

Parasitism in Kansas in the 1800s: a glimpse to the past through the analysis of grave sediments from Meadowlark cemetery

Quantitative paleoparasitology applied to archaeological sediments

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