Zoonotic parasites in feline coprolites from a holocenic mortuary context from eastern Patagonia (Argentina)

Abstract

Nowadays, wildlife is one of the most important sources of zoonoses, and it is a major concern for the public health. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of wildlife as a reservoir and source of infectious diseases in the past. South America presents a wide diversity of wildlife. In the south of the continent, Argentina shelters a large diversity of neotropical carnivores. Although the paleoparasitological studies on carnivores have been increasing in southern Argentina, most of the efforts have been focused in a handful of sites located in western Patagonia. In this paper, two coprolites of felid found in Cueva Galpón, an initial late Holocene mortuary site from northeast Patagonia (Argentina), were studied for paleoparasitological purposes. Samples were processed by rehydration, homogenization, filtered and processed by spontaneous sedimentation. The samples were assigned to Puma concolor (puma) or Panthera onca (jaguar). Microscopic observations revealed that both coprolites were positive for parasite remains. High parasite richness was observed. Six nematodes, one cestode and one coccidian morphotypes were reported. This is the first time that Gnathostoma sp. and Spirocerca sp. were recovered from holocenic times from Patagonia. This finding implies that some diseases such as taeniasis, spirocercosis, gnathostomosis, ascariasis and coccidiosis could be present in holocenic wildlife from Patagonia prior to the Spanish colonization and domestic animal introduction. The overall results suggest that felids could have played a role as reservoirs and source of some parasitic species, some of which are zoonotic. Therefore, this animal could have entailed a risk agent for human health in the site.

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

“…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.…”

Zoonotic diseases: New directions in human–animal pathology

“…The seven papers in this special issue “Zoonotic diseases: New directions in human–animal pathology” cover a range of diseases caused by bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens, from case studies drawn from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas (Beltrame et al, 2019; Bendrey et al, 2020; Boschin, 2020; Lawler et al, 2020; Ledger & Mitchell, 2019; Seetah et al, 2020; Wooding et al, 2019). They speak to the diversity of human–animal–environment interactions that shape disease emergence and transmission.…”

“…Two papers in this special issue examine zoonotic parasites and draw on their life cycles and host requirements (Beltrame et al, 2019; Ledger & Mitchell, 2019). Ledger and Mitchell (2019) review the published evidence for zoonotic endoparasites in the global archaeological record and combine this with studies on molecular phylogenetic reconstructions and modern epidemiological data to provide insights on the evolutionary, cultural and ecological factors in their emergence.…”

“…Ledger and Mitchell (2019) acknowledge the restricted regional and temporal focus of much research and identify the need for extension of palaeoparasitological studies for greater global coverage ( Priority 5 ). Also addressing parasites, Beltrame et al (2019) investigate samples from wild felid (puma or jaguar) coprolites from northeast Patagonia, Argentina, and explore the potential diseases that might have been present in these populations, including some with zoonotic potential. Wildlife sources of infection are important sources of domestic animal and human health risk (Jones et al, 2013; Perri et al, 2018) and their investigation should be developed in archaeological research ( Priority 6 ).…”

“…Also addressing parasites, Beltrame et al (2019) investigate samples from wild felid (puma or jaguar) coprolites from northeast Patagonia, Argentina, and explore the potential diseases that might have been present in these populations, including some with zoonotic potential.…”