Out of Africa: origins of the Taenia tapeworms in humans

Phylogenetic and divergence date analyses indicate that the occurrence of Taenia tapeworms in humans pre-dates the development of agriculture, animal husbandry and domestication of cattle (Bos spp.) or swine (Sus scrofa). Taeniid tapeworms in Africa twice independently colonized hominids and the gen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2001-04, Vol.268 (1469), p.781-787
Main Authors: Hoberg, E. P., Alkire, N. L., Queiroz, A. D., Jones, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Animals
Biological Evolution
Biological taxonomies
Carnivores
Evolution
Historical Ecology
Hominidae - parasitology
Homo
Host-Parasite Interactions
Human Parasites
Humans
Intermediate hosts
Parasite hosts
Parasites
Parsimony
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Species Specificity
Taenia
Taenia - classification
Taenia - genetics
Taenia - pathogenicity
Taenia tapeworms
Tapeworms
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Summary:Phylogenetic and divergence date analyses indicate that the occurrence of Taenia tapeworms in humans pre-dates the development of agriculture, animal husbandry and domestication of cattle (Bos spp.) or swine (Sus scrofa). Taeniid tapeworms in Africa twice independently colonized hominids and the genus Homo prior to the origin of modern humans. Dietary and behavioural shifts, from herbivory to scavenging and carnivory, as early Homo entered the carnivore guild in the Pliocene/Pleistocene, were drivers for host switching by tapeworms to hominids from carnivores including hyaenids and felids. Parasitological data provide a unique means of elucidating the historical ecology, foraging behaviour and food habits of hominids during the diversification of Homo spp.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2000.1579