Parasites in rodent coprolites from the historical archaeological site Alero Mazquiarán, Chubut Province, Argentina

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2009-02, Vol.104 (1), p.37-42
• Main Authors: Sardella, Norma Haydée, Fugassa, Martín Horacio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; anoplocephaliids; Argentina; Burial; Cestoda - isolation & purification; Feces - parasitology; Fossils; helminths; Humans; Nematoda - isolation & purification; nematodes; paleoparasitology; paleoparasitology- - helminths - rodents - Patagonia - nematodes - anoplocephaliids; Paleopathology; Parasite Egg Count; PARASITOLOGY; Patagonia; Rodentia - parasitology; rodents; TROPICAL MEDICINE
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000100006

The aim of this study was to examine the parasitic remains that were found in rodent coprolites collected from the archaeological site Alero Mazquiarán (Chubut Province, 45º44'15"S, 70°25'9"W), which is assigned to the interface of the Araucanian and Tehuelche cultures, dated at 212 ± 35 years B.P. The faecal material from two unidentified rodent species (X-10 and X-11) was collected from one human pelvic cavity found in a multiple burial. The faecal samples were processed and examined using paleoparasitological procedures. The X-10 coprolites were positive for eggs of Monoecocestus sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) and the X-11 faeces were positive for Pterygodermatites sp. (Nematoda: Rictulariidae), Trichosomoides sp. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae) and Monoecocestus sp. In this study, we discuss parasitic life cycles, the zoonotic importance of parasites and the behaviour of the aboriginal people.