ABSTRACT
Paleoparasitological studies using microscopy showed that Ascarisand Trichuris trichiura are the human intestinal parasites most found in archaeological sites. However, in pre-Columbian South American archaeological sites, Ascaris is rare. In this work we standardized a molecular methodology for Ascaris diagnosis directly from ancient DNA retrieved from coprolites. Using cythochrome b gene (142 bp) target, ancient DNA sequences were retrieved from South American samples, negative by microscopy. Moreover, the methodology applied was sensitive enough to detect ancient DNA extracted from 30 Ascaris eggs from an European coprolite. These results revealed a new scenery for the paleodistribution of Ascaris in South America.
Subject(s)
Animals , History, Ancient , Humans , Ascariasis , Ascaris/genetics , Cytochromes b/genetics , DNA, Helminth/isolation & purification , Feces/parasitology , Paleopathology/methods , Ascariasis/diagnosis , Ascariasis/history , Ascaris/isolation & purification , Cytochromes b/chemistry , DNA, Helminth/chemistry , DNA, Helminth/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Sequence Analysis, DNA , South AmericaABSTRACT
Enterobius vermicularis eggs were found in human coprolites collected from the archaeological site of San Pedro de Atacama, North of Chile, in occupational layers dated from 1,000 BC. Agricultures and herding were begining at this period of time in this region of South America. The paleoparasitological data amplifies the knowledge about the distribution of human oxyuriasis in Pre-Columbian America.