Pre-Columbian zoonotic enteric parasites: An insight into Puerto Rican indigenous culture diets and life styles

Abstract

The pre-Columbian Huecoid and Saladoid cultures were agricultural ethnic groups that supplemented their diets by fishing, hunting and scavenging. Archaeological deposits associated to these cultures contained a variety of faunal osseous remains that hinted at the cultures' diets. The present study identified zoonotic parasites that may have infected these two cultures as a result of their diets. We used metagenomic sequencing and microscopy data from 540-1,400 year old coprolites as well as the zooarchaeological data to recreate the possible interactions between zoonotic parasites and their hosts. Microscopy revealed Diphyllobothrium spp. and Dipylidium caninum eggs along with unidentified cestode and trematode eggs. DNA sequencing together with functional prediction and phylogenetic inference identified reads of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis and Schistosoma spp. The complimentary nature of the molecular, microscopy and zooarchaeology data provided additional insight into the detected zoonotic parasites' potential host range. Network modeling revealed that rodents and canids living in close proximity to these cultures were most likely the main source of these zoonotic parasite infections.

Integrative analysis of DNA, macroscopic remains and stable isotopes of dog coprolites to reconstruct community diet

“…Although we cannot confirm whether the humans at Janey B. Goode were impacted by the pathogens and parasites that the dogs carried, it is reasonable to infer that they were, given that parasites have been found to be widespread in many ancient human populations 85 , 86 , and given the archaeological evidence that suggests dogs and humans at Janey B. Goode were in close contact 87 . As other studies have noted, a shared diet and environment between companion animals and humans also increases the likelihood of infection by similar parasites and pathogens 5 , 6 , 37 , 85 , 88 .This suggests that humans living in the American Bottom during the Late Woodland to Mississippian periods were also impacted by conditions associated with urbanization. Dogs were an important part of life in the American Bottom during the Late Woodland period, and their coprolites are informative not only about their own diet and health, but that of their human companions as well.…”

“…Stable isotope analyses can be used to infer the protein sources and types of plants consumed, and provide a complementary, broader view of an organism’s diet. Recent studies of coprolites, bone and dental calculus using a combination of archaeological, isotopic and genetic methods revealed a wealth of information about ancient human populations in Italy 35 , Argentina 36 , Puerto Rico 37 , and eastern North America 38 .…”

Mycobiome-Host Coevolution? The Mycobiome of Ancestral Human Populations Seems to Be Different and Less Diverse Than Those of Extant Native and Urban-Industrialized Populations

“…Coprolites from two pre-Columbian cultures, the Huecoid and Saladoid, recovered in Puerto Rico have previously been characterized by our group to determine the gut microbiota [17,18], viral communities [19] and parasite composition [21], to further support archaeological evidence suggesting that two pre-Columbian populations, the Huecoid and Saladoid, were two different cultures. Prior the 1980s, most of the archaeological evidence suggested that the Huecoid and Saladoid were the same culture.…”

Helminth infection and human mobility in sambaquis: Paleoparasitological, paleogenetic, and microremains investigations in Jabuticabeira II, Brazil (2890 ± 55 to 1805 ± 65 BP)

“…Some techniques have been tested in an attempt to recover parasites and plants from archeological remains. The study of parasites and diet in archeological material has recently produced combined information about the health and survival conditions of the ancient populations (Moore et al, 2020; Sawafuji et al, 2020; Søe et al, 2018; Wiscovitch-Russo et al, 2020). The data achieved until now, however, could not provide direct information of helminth infection associated with burial in sambaquis archeological site.…”