Amoebiasis distribution in the past: first steps using an immunoassay technique

The identification of parasites in ancient human faeces is compromised by differential preservation of identifiable parasite structures. However, protein molecules can survive the damage of the environment and can be detected even after centuries. In this paper it is shown that is possible to detect...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2004-02, Vol.98 (2), p.88-91
Main Authors: Goncalves, Marcelo Luiz Carvalho, da Silva, Valmir Laurentino, de Andrade, Carlos Mauricio, Reinhard, Karl, da Rocha, Gino Chaves, Le Bailly, Matthieu, Bouchet, Francoise, Ferreira, Luiz Fernando, Araujo, Adauto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amebiasis
Amebiasis - epidemiology
Amibiasis
Ancient faeces
Animals
Antigens, Protozoan - isolation & purification
Biological and medical sciences
Coprolites
ELISA
Entamoeba histolytica - immunology
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods
Europe - epidemiology
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Life Sciences
Medical sciences
Microbiology and Parasitology
Paleoparasitology
Paleopathology
Parasitic diseases
Parasitology
Protozoal diseases
South America - epidemiology
Sudan - epidemiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The identification of parasites in ancient human faeces is compromised by differential preservation of identifiable parasite structures. However, protein molecules can survive the damage of the environment and can be detected even after centuries. In this paper it is shown that is possible to detect copro-antigen of Entamoeba histolytica in historic and prehistoric human faecal remains, using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) kit. The kit uses monoclonal antibody-peroxidase conjugate specific for E. histolytica adhesin. A total of 90 specimens of desiccated faeces found in mummies and ancient organic sediment from South America, North America, Africa, and Europe were examined. The ELISA detected 20 positive samples, dated to about 5300 years before present to the 19th Century ad. The positive samples are from archaeological sites in Argentina, USA, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The detection of protozoan antigen using immunoassays is a reliable tool for the studies of intestinal parasites in the past.
ISSN:0035-9203
1878-3503
DOI:10.1016/S0035-9203(03)00011-7