Human intestinal parasites in the past: new findings and a review

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves¹  Adauto Araújo¹  Luiz Fernando Ferreira¹ 

[1] ,Fiocruz Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Rio de Janeiro RJ ,21041-210

关键词: paleoparasitology;    ancient diseases;    helminths;    protozoa;    coprolites;    mummies;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0074-02762003000900016

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Almost all known human specific parasites have been found in ancient feces. A review of the paleoparasitological helminth and intestinal protozoa findings available in the literature is presented. We also report the new paleoparasitologic findings from the examination performed in samples collected in New and Old World archaeological sites. New finds of ancylostomid, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichostrongylus spp., Diphyllobothrium latum, Hymenolepis nana and Acantocephalan eggs are reported. According to the findings, it is probable that A. lumbricoides was originally a human parasite. Human ancylostomids, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, found in the New World in pre-Columbian times, have not been introduced into the Americas by land via Beringia. These parasites could not supported the cold climate of the region. Nomadic prehistoric humans that have crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to the Americas in the last glaciation, probably during generations, would have lost these parasites, which life cycles need warm temperatures in the soil to be transmitted from host to host. Alternative routes are discussed for human parasite introduction into the Americas.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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