title: Prehistoric parasitism in Tennessee: evidence from the analysis of desiccated fecal material collected from Big Bone Cave, Van Buren County, Tennessee.
abstract: Eight samples of desiccated human feces collected from Big Bone Cave (40VB103), Van Buren County, Tennessee, were analyzed to determine the presence of ecto- and endoparasitic infection among the prehistoric population using the cave. Radiocarbon-dated torch material from the cave indicated that it was a locus of human activity 2,177 +/- 145 yr ago. Parasitic species identified were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, fleas of the tribe Phalacropsyllini, and protozoan cysts. The cysts were identified as Giardia using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. The only report of Giardia in a prehistoric context is the identification of cysts in 2 1,800-yr-old paleofecal specimens from a cave in Israel. This is the first report of Giardia from paleofeces in the New World.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901.
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000266:history; D003890:Desiccation; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000266:history*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D010123:Oxyuriasis / Q000266:history; D010164:Paleopathology; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000266:history*; D013714:Tennessee